Authors
Haotian Wu, Wenyue Si, Jiawen Tian, Bangsheng Yin
Published in
Frontiers in chemistry. Volume 14. Pages 1912356. Epub Aug 19, 2026.
Abstract
MXenes are commonly described by the compact formula Mn+1XnTx, yet this notation hides the variables that most strongly determine their behavior: precursor ordering, extraction pathway, vacancies, termination identity and distribution, interlayer ions and water, stacking, and transformation history. This mini review develops a solid-state chemistry framework in which MXenes are treated as chemically programmable metastable solids. The central argument is that synthesis does not simply reveal a pre-existing two-dimensional carbide or nitride sheet; it drives the material along a coupled reaction coordinate that creates a history-dependent lattice, surface, and interlayer state. We connect precursor crystal chemistry to selective extraction, show why terminations and defects must be considered together, interpret intercalation as a structural component of the three-dimensional stacked solid, and examine oxidation and thermal conversion as mechanistic probes of metastability. Recent operando, spectroscopic, computational, and synthesis studies are integrated to identify transferable structure-property relations. We finally propose a minimum state descriptor and experimental priorities for converting empirical recipes into predictive synthesis. This perspective places MXenes squarely within solid-state chemistry and clarifies why nominally identical compositions can display divergent conductivity, mechanics, ion storage, and reactivity.
PMID:
42688874
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 03 Sep 2026.
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