MXenes: exploiting their unique properties for designing next-generation thermal catalysts and photocatalysts

Abstract MXenes possess a range of exceptional properties that can be harnessed in catalyst design for thermal and photocatalytic reactions. Herein, we share our perspective on how these properties can be exploited to address challenges in different catalytic reactions, thereby highlighting their potential in catalysis. For thermal catalysis, fundamental properties include their layered structure, reducibility of their surface, partial oxidation ability, basicity/acidity, and electrophilicity. In photocatalysis, MXenes exhibit beneficial properties such as transparency, electrical conductivity, tunable Fermi level, photo-corrosion resistance, and plasmonic resonance. Two fundamental characteristics that underpin MXenes’ superiority over many other traditional catalysts are the tunability of their properties to meet specific application needs and the low dimensionality of their structure, which enables nanoscale phenomena to be harnessed. While significant progress has been made in the MXenes field, we assert that the potential for MXenes in catalytic applications is vast and largely underexplored. As we mark a decade of MXene research, we anticipate significant advancements in their catalytic applications, positioning them as critical materials for future breakthroughs.