MXenes: focus on optical and electronic properties and corresponding applications

The discovery of graphene, the first two-dimensional (2D) material, has caused an upsurge, as this kind of material revealed a tremendous potential of application in areas such as energy storage, electronics, and gas separation. MXenes are referred to as a family of 2D transition metal carbides, carbonitrides, and nitrides. After the synthesis of Ti3C2 from Ti3AlC2 in 2011, about 30 new compositions have been reported. These materials have been widely discussed, synthesized, and investigated by many research groups, as they have many advantages over traditional 2D materials. This review covers the structures of MXenes, discusses various synthesis routines, analyzes the properties, especially optical and electronic properties, and summarizes their applications and potential, which may give readers an overview of these popular materials.