MXenes: Bridging the Gap Between Advanced Materials and Sustainable Technologies in Energy and Environmental Applications

ABSTRACT In recent years, MXenes, a new family of two‐dimensional materials composed of transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, have garnered substantial scientific attention due to their exceptional and distinctive physical and chemical properties. These properties are largely influenced by their diverse elemental compositions and surface functional groups. MXenes exhibit excellent compatibility with various materials such as polymers, metal oxides, and carbon nanotubes, enabling the fabrication of composites with tailored functionalities. In addition to their recognized use as electrode materials in energy storage devices, MXenes and their composites have also shown significant potential for various environmental applications. These include electrochemical and photocatalytic water splitting, carbon dioxide reduction, water treatment, and sensing technologies, attributed to their high electrical conductivity, strong reduction potential, and biocompatibility. This article delivers an in‐depth summary of the various synthesis techniques, fundamental characteristics, and the latest progress in the field of MXenes and their composites, with special emphasis on their practical applications.