Recent advances in MXene-based nanomaterials for high-performance lithium metal anodes

To tackle the issues of rapid electrode degradation and severe safety issues caused by the uncontrollable growth of lithium dendrites in Li metal anodes (LMAs), two-dimensional transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes) with a high electrical conductivity, excellent mechanical properties, and abundant surface functional groups have been used as hosts to induce uniform Li nucleation and alleviate the volume changes, eventually inhibiting the formation of Li dendrites. Recent advances in the use of MXene-based nanomaterials in LMAs are summarized. The problems with using LMAs are first considered, and the ways of using MXene-based nanomaterials for suppressing Li dendrite growth and constructing stable LMAs are then summarized. These include the use of MXenes, MXene-metal hybrids, MXene-carbon hybrids, and MXene derivatives as hosts for the anodes and as additives to modify the electrolyte compositions to increase ionic conductivity and inhibit polymer crystallization. Finally, the challenges and prospects for using MXene-based nanomaterials in next-generation LMAs are briefly discussed.