Review on Ti₃C₂-Based MXene Nanosheets for Flexible Electrodes

MXenes have recently gained significant attention owing to their exceptional metallic electrical conductivity, good chemical inertness, and excellent hydrophilicity. Among the various two-dimensional MXenes, which are made up of atomic layers of transition metal carbides and nitrides, Ti₃C₂T_x is one of the most promising and versatile materials for application in various electronic devices. In fact, there has been a rising trend of using Ti₃C₂-based MXene nanosheets as flexible electrodes for different electronic devices. Ti₃C₂-based MXenes have shown the potential to be utilized as flexible and conductive electrodes in electrical energy storage devices, light-emitting devices, photodetectors, and flexible strain sensors. Thus, this review focuses on Ti₃C₂-based MXene nanosheets and MXene/polymer composite films, which are widely used as flexible and electrode layers in electronic devices, such as supercapacitors, solar cells, light-emitting devices, energy harvesting devices, power generating devices, and flexible strain sensors. First, we have briefly discussed the structure, conductivity, work function, and synthesis processes of Ti₃C₂ nanosheets based on the most recently published research articles. Then, we discussed the recent advances in the modification methods for Ti₃C₂-based MXenes to render them suitable for application as conductive electrode layers in various flexible electronic devices. The last section highlights the current challenges in the development and application of Ti₃C₂-based MXenes and future perspectives. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].