MXene: Recent advances in synthesis, characterization and emerging applications in energy, biomedical and environmental remediation

MXenes as two-dimensional (2D) materials have garnered the attention in the field of materials science and studies have been performed on the synthesis routes, compelling properties, and versatile applications of MXenes and their composites. The MXenes refer to the transition metal nitrides, carbides, and carbonitrides that can be obtained by the delamination of certain 3D or 4D compounds that are known as the MAX phase. MXenes have been applied as ion batteries, energy-storing devices, catalysts, and sensors due to their structural complexity and chemical diversity. The high active sites, hydrophilicity, favourable chemical stability, specific surface area, and superior sorption-reduction capacity of MXenes have made them favourable for energy storage devices and environmental remediation. In the present article, the synthesis routes of MXenes, applications of MXenes and their composites such as gas sensors, humidity sensors, biomedical applications (photothermal therapy, biosensors, bioimaging, anti-microbial agent), adsorbents and photocatalysts for environmental remediation are thoroughly discussed to give a comprehensive idea about MXenes. The article also addressed the formidable challenges and the future prospects for utilizing MXene in the various fields of research and aims towards accentuating the potentiality of MXenes.