Headway towards contemporary 2D MXene-based hybrid electrodes for alkali-ion batteries

Abstract

Recent studies have revealed that the current consumption rate of fossil fuels may lead to their exhaustion in the coming years. Due to the depletion of non-renewable energy sources and the fitness of renewable energy sources, energy storage and management can be viewed as a prime requisite. The inception of advancements in energy storage techniques and rechargeable batteries has eased the problem to a certain extent. With highly exceptional properties such as inherent volumetric capacitance, outstanding conductivity, durability, low energy barriers for metal ion diffusion and the presence of surface functional groups, MXenes have entered the field of energy storage. MXenes are 2-D layers of transition metal carbides or nitrides, synthesized by the selective etching of aluminium from layered MAX phases. The large interlayer spaces for ion intercalation permits alkali ions in these layers, revealing unexpected properties that can be exploited for energy storage in alkali-ion batteries (AIBs) such as lithium/sodium/potassium/magnesium/calcium ion batteries. Electrochemical energy storage can also be visualised as a clean energy storage system. This review covers the synthesis of MXenes, their eminent properties and the fabrication of MXene-based nanomaterials and hybrids for electrochemical energy storage in various alkali-ion batteries. Finally, possible challenges are highlighted for the future exploration of the research possibilities.