MXenes for Rechargeable Batteries Beyond the Lithium‐Ion

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. e2004039 - n/a
• Main Authors: Ming, Fangwang, Liang, Hanfeng, Huang, Gang, Bayhan, Zahra, Alshareef, Husam N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2021
• Subjects: 2D materials; Additives; Aluminum; Anodic protection; Batteries; Carbon nitride; Electrode materials; Electrodes; energy storage; Interlayers; Lithium; Lithium-ion batteries; Metal carbides; MXene; MXenes; Optimization; Reaction mechanisms; Rechargeable batteries; Separators; Storage batteries; Transition metals; energy storage; rechargeable batteries; 2D materials; MXene
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202004039

Research on next‐generation battery technologies (beyond Li‐ion batteries, or LIBs) has been accelerating over the past few years. A key challenge for these emerging batteries has been the lack of suitable electrode materials, which severely limits their further developments. MXenes, a new class of 2D transition metal carbides, carbonitrides, and nitrides, are proposed as electrode materials for these emerging batteries due to several desirable attributes. These attributes include large and tunable interlayer spaces, excellent hydrophilicity, extraordinary conductivity, compositional diversity, and abundant surface chemistries, making MXenes promising not only as electrode materials but also as other components in the cells of emerging batteries. Herein, an overview and assessment of the utilization of MXenes in rechargeable batteries beyond LIBs, including alkali‐ion (e.g., Na+, K+) storage, multivalent‐ion (e.g., Mg2+, Zn2+, and Al3+) storage, and metal batteries are presented. In particular, the synthetic strategies and properties of MXenes that enable MXenes to play various roles as electrodes, metal anode protective layers, sulfur hosts, separator modification layers, and conductive additives in these emerging batteries are discussed. Moreover, a perspective on promising future research directions on MXenes and MXene‐based materials, ranging from material design and processing, fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanisms, to device performance optimization strategies is provided. MXene and MXene‐based materials are promising for emerging battery technologies beyond lithium‐ion batteries (including alkali‐ion storage, multivalent‐ion storage, and metal batteries). High conductivity, compositional diversity, and rich surface terminations allow MXenes to play various roles in emerging batteries, including as electrodes, metal‐anode protective layers, sulfur hosts, separator interlayers, and conductive additives.