Green Synthesis of MXenes: Sustainable Pathways, Enhanced Properties, and Application Prospects

The discovery of MXenes has led to the emergence of a versatile group of 2D materials with outstanding characteristics. Nonetheless, their traditional production, which relies on toxic hydrofluoric acid (HF), faces dire environmental, safety, and material performance issues, limiting scalability and sustainability. The article presents a critical review of the paradigm shift in green synthesis methodologies, including electrochemical etching, molten salt synthesis, and deep eutectic solvents (DESs). These fluoride-free pathways not only reduce the risk of hazardous waste and harm to human health but also produce MXenes with enhanced structural integrity, customized surface chemistry (e.g., .Cl, .O, .OH), and improved electrochemical activity. The products obtained exhibit breakthrough performance in energy storage (e.g., supercapacitors, Li-ion, and post-Li batteries), electrocatalysis (hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution reactions), environmental remediation (photocatalysis, sensing), and biocompatible devices, as well as making green-synthesized MXenes a key material in the next generation of sustainable technology.