| Abstract Scope |
Materials define the progress of humanity as access to new materials enables new tools and technologies. In the Silicon Age, electronic and computer technologies greatly accelerated the technical progress, changing our life. What is next? The age of nanomaterials. The era of assembly of new materials, structures and devices from nanoscale building blocks providing any imaginable, but impossible in conventional materials, combinations of properties and functions. Assembly from nanoparticles will allow integration of electronics, energy harvesting and storage in the same device, creating self-powered internet of things and wearable internet, at the same time minimizing the waste during manufacturing. Numerous 2D materials, including oxides, graphene, and carbides/nitrides (MXenes) are available nowadays and thousands more coming. They provide very attractive building blocks, because they can be assembled into dense structures, just like bricks in the wall. 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) have been expanding rapidly since their discovery at Drexel University in 2011 but have already become the fastest growing family of materials. Properties and applications of these and other 2D ceramics and their applications in energy storage, optoelectronics, plasmonics, electromagnetic interference shielding, antennas, electrocatalysis, medicine, sensors, water purification/desalination and other fields will be discussed. |