Prospects of MXene-based nanocomposites: Properties, synthesis techniques, and their applications in electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices

Environmental sustainability and energy availability are among the few challenges faced in the 21st century leading to the need for scalable, efficient and reliable energy storage and conversion systems. Among the renewable energy resources like solar, wind and tidal, electrochemical processes come as promising strategies due to their compatibility and efficiency, which could also address the challenges faced by conventional energy storage and conversion techniques in terms of both economic and environmental aspects. This review delves in the introduction of 2 dimensional material MXene while understanding the properties and synthesis techniques and their various applications in batteries, supercapacitors, fuels cells and electrolysers. It also explores how various MXenes derived from their respective MAX phase precursors acts electrode materials & electrocatalysts and how they influence the electrochemical activity. The review highlights the latest advancements of utilising MXene in upcoming technologies such as Direct Alcohol fuel cell (DAFC), supercapacitors, batteries as well as water electrolysers which have potential for large scale renewable energy storage and conversion applications.