Engineered MXene-polymer composites for water remediation: Promises, challenges and future perspective

Abstract

Technological innovation has enabled the development of new materials, with two-dimensional materials garnering much interest in recent years. Transition metal nitrides, oxycarbides, carbonitrides, and carbides, collectively termed MXenes, display favorable chemical and physical properties. A striking feature of MXenes is their diverse elemental makeups and ability to have multiple surface functional groups, providing a versatile platform to create novel composites. Indeed, many MXene-polymer composites have already been made using different polymers, allowing fine-tuning for intended uses. These materials have been used in a wide spectrum of environmental research, being applied in processes such as photocatalysis, electrochemical water splitting, contaminant removal, desalination, CO₂ reduction, hydrogen evolution, and sensing. This review comprehensively surveys recent progress in MXene-polymer composites, including fabrication approaches, and modification strategies. Moreover, it systematically categorizes the applications of MXene-polymer composites for different water treatment applications such as desalination, removing heavy metals, dyes, pharmaceutical residuals, hazardous materials, natural organic matters, and oil–water separation among others. Finally, it addresses challenges, limitations, and future directions for these composites, while introducing potential ways to enhance MXenes to further expand MXene-polymer composite utilities going forward.