Most recent advances in MXene hybrids for next-generation supercapacitors: Structure, synthesis, properties, challenges, and prospects

Document Type

Review

Publication Date

3-30-2026

Abstract

In recent years, MXenes have gained significant attention for their unique properties and versatile applications, particularly in energy storage devices. These materials, exfoliated from their parent MAX phase by selective chemical etching, offer remarkable optical, mechanical, electrochemical, electrical, and physicochemical capabilities. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the structure of MAX phase and continues to explore the synthesis, intercalation, delamination, properties, and charge storage mechanism of MXene frameworks. The comparison of top-down synthesis techniques with bottom-up approaches has also been made, emphasizing their impact on flake morphology, defect density, and chemical functionality. Detailed discussion of intercalation and delamination strategies illustrates how organic and inorganic intercalants (e.g., DMSO, TBAOH, Li+, Na+) expand interlayer spacing, enabling exfoliation into few-layer nanosheets. Furthermore, the review delves into the electronic, vibrational, mechanical, optical, and thermal properties of MXenes, providing a detailed understanding of how these characteristics contribute to their performance in diverse applications. The effect have various factors on charge storage mechanisms has also been briefly described in this study, and the structure-property relationship of MXene materials has been analyzed for improved performance. Moreover, the greater significance of this study stems from the extensive review of the most recent advancements in MXene composites for supercapacitor application. Comparative assessment has also been made by critical analysis to assess the difference in the MXene composite's performance for supercapacitors. Findings also reveal the key challenges that highlight the necessity of integrating safer, cost-effective and scalable synthesis process with performance optimization.

Publication Title

Journal of Energy Storage

DOI

10.1016/j.est.2026.120592

Volume

152

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