Advanced MXene‐Based Multifunctional Nanoarchitecture Materials Engineered for Adsorptive Cleanup of Hazardous Radioactive Pollutants: A Comprehensive Critical Review

Abstract

MXenes, as emerging multifunctional nanomaterials, have attracted the attention of the scientific community in recent years for environmental remediation, including adsorptive cleanup of radio‐contaminants due to their important characteristic profile, such as large surface area and structural diversity. Thus, this study aims to review MXenes as functional nanosorbents for the adsorptive elimination of radio‐contaminants from simulated radio‐wastewater. The goal was to explore research advances, identify trends, provide critical insights, highlight challenges, and underscore interesting future research hotspots. Notably, it was discovered that MXenes have an adsorption capacity of 7.76–1376.75 mg/g, with functionalized MXenes taking the lead, while the number of active sites plays a key role. Furthermore, the key mechanisms governing the adsorption operation were complexation/chelation/coordination, chemisorption, ion exchange, and electrostatic interaction. Overfitting of isotherm and kinetics models was suspected. Findings from cyclic stability studies (reusability up to 2–8 times) and the effect of co‐existing pollutants further showed that MXenes have potential for practical uses. Lastly, challenges, research gaps, and potential avenues for further study were discussed. The review work led to an inference that MXene‐based adsorption techniques can eco‐efficiently remove radio‐pollutants from water and nuclear wastewater if given adequate attention.