Progress in niobium-derived MXenes: synthesis, properties and applications

Abstract

Since their discovery in 2011, MXenes stand out as a two-dimensional (2D) material, which is currently an emerging and most dynamically explored member of the family of 2D materials. Researchers have successfully synthesized over 30 distinct MXenes, with particular attention directed towards Ti-MXenes. In recent times, Nb-derived Nb₂CT_x and Nb₄C₃T_x MXenes have gained attention as stunning materials for widespread engineering applications owing to their unique attractive features. In this review, we explore the fabrication, recent developments, properties and applications of Nb-derived MXenes in energy storage (supercapacitors and secondary batteries), electrocatalysis, photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI), sensing, biomedicine, and other fields.