Lewis acid molten salt method for 2D MXene synthesis and energy storage applications: A review

MXenes, the emerging 2D transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, have attracted a great attention as electrodes in energy storage, including batteries and supercapacitors due to their unique features and electrochemical properties. Despite the significant progress achieved in this field, the MXene synthetic process is still burdensome. Most of the MXenes synthesized so far are based on hazardous HF-based route. Besides, the scalability of their synthesis is a big challenge to realizing commercial applications. The lewis acid molten salt (LAMS) technique has recently emerged as alternative, green, and scalable synthesis method for MXenes. This review article timely and comprehensively reviewed about recent progress in the synthesis of various MXenes using the LAMS technique and their applications in metal-ion batteries and supercapacitors. Additionally, the article presents the role of this technique in tailoring the MXene surface chemistry to enhance their electrochemical performance. Finally, it concludes by providing valuable insights about the present technological challenges and identifies areas for future exploration in the development of next-generation MXene electrode materials for energy storage applications.