A review of etching methods of MXene and applications of MXene conductive hydrogels

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbide/nitride (MXene) has been a hot topic of research since it was proposed in 2011. Etching methods to obtain MXene from MAX phase have been continuously investigated. The excellent hydrophilicity, conductivity and tunability make MXene widely used in electrochemistry. In addition, the development of wearable sensors has promoted the research of conductive hydrogels, and improving the performance of conductive hydrogels is still an area of effort for researchers. Therefore, the incorporation of MXene into hydrogel systems will result in significant improvements in performance. This paper reviews the etching methods of MXene, the synthesis strategies and applications of MXene conductive hydrogels, and provides an outlook on the future development of MXene and MXene conductive hydrogels.