Technological challenges in the environmental applications of MXenes and future outlook

Recent years have witnessed tremendous research attention towards the applications of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides (MXenes) in various fields. Owing to their fabulous features, i.e., high surface area, hydrophilicity, high metallic conductivity, activated metallic hydroxide sites, ease of functionalization, and biocompatibility; MXenes are ideal candidates for environmental remediation applications. MXenes have exhibited immense potential in the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, ion sieving membranes, capacitive deionization (CDI), catalysis, and sensors. This perspective highlights the key technological challenges related to the applications of MXenes in environmental remediation. The directions for future research to focus on solving these fundamental challenges in the applications of MXenes are also provided.