A Perspective of Fabrication and Applications of MXene–Metal Hybrids

2D materials with ultrathin structure, high specific areas, and excellent mechanical properties provide potentials to enhance the electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties of metals. In particular, MXene with different compositions, abundant surface terminations, high electrical conductivity has good affinity with some metals such as Al, Li, Na as well as can be uniformly dispersed in the metals. Moreover, the above unique features enable the MXene–metal hybrids with diversified functions. In this review, the current advanced studies in the topic of MXene–metal hybrids are summarized. The properties of MXenes such as mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, wettability, and surface properties of MXenes are first reviewed. Subsequently, different synthetic approaches including physical, metallurgy, electrochemical, and wet-chemical routes are screened. By harnessing the above unique features, MXene could enhance the electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties of the hybrids, and their application such as energy storage devices, anticorrosion coating, functional structural materials, electromagnetic wave absorption are highlighted. Finally, an outlook on the in-operando characterization techniques is provided to clarify the strengthening mechanism of MXenes in metals, tailoration of interface between MXenes and metals, and urgent need for industrial-scale manufacture of MXene–metal hybrids.