Engineering MXene Nanomaterials: Structure–Property Relationships, Functional Design, and Emerging Technologies

Abstract

MXenes have emerged as a rapidly expanding family of two-dimensional transition-metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, characterized by exceptional compositional diversity, tunable surface chemistry, metallic conductivity, hydrophilicity, mechanical flexibility, and rich redox activity. These characteristics make MXenes highly attractive for next-generation technologies, including energy storage and conversion, catalysis, electromagnetic interference shielding, sensors, water purification, biomedical systems, and smart functional devices. However, the performance of MXene-based materials is strongly governed by their synthesis routes, defect structures, interlayer spacing, surface terminations, oxidation stability, and interfacial interactions with polymers, metals, oxides, and other two-dimensional materials. Therefore, a structure–property-oriented understanding is essential for moving MXene research from empirical material development toward rational functional design. Unlike application-centered summaries, this review develops a cross-application engineering framework that connects MXene synthesis and processing with multiscale structure, functional properties, performance trade-offs, and translational requirements. First, major synthesis and processing strategies are discussed, including selective etching, delamination, intercalation, surface modification, and scalable fabrication. Next, the relationships between MXene composition, morphology, surface chemistry, electrical conductivity, electrochemical behavior, mechanical properties, and environmental stability are analyzed. Recent advances in functionalization, heterostructure construction, and composite engineering are then highlighted to illustrate how MXene properties can be tailored for emerging applications. Finally, key challenges related to oxidation, restacking, long-term stability, environmental safety, reproducibility, and industrial translation are critically evaluated. This review aims to establish a design framework for engineering MXene nanomaterials toward high-performance, stable, and scalable emerging technologies.