Roles of MXene-Based Hybrids in Fabricating Flexible Anodes for Advanced Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Mini Review

Flexible, lightweight energy-storage batteries have great potential for wearable electronics, rollup displays, and portable gadget applications. However, the ability to make flexible electrodes with robust mechanical properties and excellent electrochemical performance remains challenging. MXenes are typical two-dimensional transition metal carbides, carbonitrides, and nitrides and are promising candidates for flexible electrodes due to their high electrical conductivity, robust mechanical flexibility, and abundant functional groups for integrated compatibility. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in developing MXenes and their hybrids as flexible electrodes for advanced lithium-ion batteries; this includes the synthesis, characterization, and structural modification of MXene-based materials and their ability to improve electrochemical performance from the viewpoint of fundamental to various applications. The various integration strategies between MXenes and different components (such as carbonous materials, silicon, transition metal oxides/sulfides, liquid metal, and lithium metal) used to fabricate flexible electrodes are also thoroughly discussed, and the effects of MXenes on hybrids, such as conductivity, electrochemical/mechanical/thermal stability, and integration ability, are investigated. Finally, future challenges/perspectives of MXene-based hybrid electrodes are provided.