Challenges and Opportunities in Utilizing MXenes of Carbides and Nitrides as Electrocatalysts

Sustainable energy conversion processes often require electrochemical reactions powered by renewable energy sources. 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes), an important and growing class of 2D materials, have been demonstrated to be promising candidates for heterogeneous electrocatalysis due to their unique electronic, physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. Significant efforts have been made in the development of MXenes and MXene‐derived electrocatalysts for various electrochemical reactions, including the hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, carbon dioxide reduction reaction, nitrogen reduction reaction, and methanol oxidation reaction. MXenes from earth‐abundant metals provide the potential for large‐scale applications, and their well‐defined structures allow for the identification of active sites and catalytic mechanisms. Herein, recent studies of MXenes in electrocatalysis are reviewed, and the challenges and opportunities for the design and fabrication of MXenes and MXene‐based materials with desired electrocatalytic properties are discussed. 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) from earth‐abundant metals have been widely studied for heterogeneous electrocatalysis, due to their well‐defined structures and unique properties. In this review, recent progress in the synthesis of MXenes and their applications electrocatalysis are summarized. The challenges and opportunities in the field are also discussed from both experimental and theoretical aspects.