| Abstract Scope |
MXenes, discovered in 2011, are no longer new materials. There are about 30,000 research papers and dozens of books originating from over 100 countries; about 10,000 patents were filed in the past decade. While for many materials that could indicate a mature state of research and even saturation of the field, in the case of MXenes, this is just the beginning. We are only scratching the very surface of this emerging field. The number of possible MXene compositions is infinite if one considers solid solutions on M and X sites, high-entropy MXenes, and combinations of surface terminations. New subfamilies of in- and out-of-plane ordered MXenes, oxycarbides, 2D borides, and silicides further expand the family of non-oxide 2D materials based on transition metals. They can be made using a wide variety of methods, including direct synthesis from metal chlorides and carbon sources and the selective etching of layered ceramics in aqueous etchants, molten salts, or halogen-containing gases. MXenes have led us into the world of atomistically designed inorganic materials. In this talk, I’ll discuss the emerging synthesis methods, key properties, and new potential applications of MXenes. |