Challenges and opportunities in tailoring MAX phases as a starting materials for MXenes development

Abstract

There is plethora of parameters to take into consideration during designing of the 2D MXene. Some of them are crucial for obtaining particular morphology others are important for purity and surface chemistry. While the latter mainly corresponds to Mene etching and delamination, the first and second ones are critical from material design point of view. In other words, how we synthesise and prepare the MAX phase truly determines the efficiency and feasibility of the process of MXene synthesis. Therefore, these two (MAX and MXene) stages are considered in this study as a step-wise aporoach in which changing of each single parameter may highly influence the final product. As can be seen, preparation of the MXene materials with repeteable features and properties is a great challenge that needs special attention in the upcoming future.