Review: preparation and mechanical properties of MXene and its structural composites

MXene, a two-dimensional layered nanomaterial analogous to graphene, stands out due to its scalable top-down synthesis and exceptional intrinsic properties, among which are high specific surface area, excellent mechanical strength, high-temperature stability, and tunable abundant surface functional groups. These unique characteristics make MXene a promising reinforcement candidate for structural composites, such as polymers, metals and ceramic matrices. However, critical challenges, including the dispersion, agglomeration and interfacial interaction, as well as the need to maintain structural integrity within various matrices, restrict the potential of MXene. This review systematically evaluates the current manufacturing methods, analyzes their limitations, and highlights recent advancements in overcoming the above issues. A comprehensive examination of mechanical properties after MXene reinforcement across different matrices is also provided. Meanwhile, despite considerable progress, no existing processing strategy can simultaneously address the bottlenecks associated with MXene industry. In view of the above, research directions, emphasizing hybrid processing strategies and targeted interfacial engineering, are proposed as the alternative. These routes aim to guide the development of next-generation MXene-enhanced structural composites with optimized performance and broader applicability.