Open AccessSurface Functionalized MXenes for Wastewater Treatment—A Comprehensive Review
Author(s) -
Damptey Lois,
Jaato Bright N.,
Ribeiro Camila Silva,
Varagnolo Silvia,
Power Nicholas P.,
Selvaraj Vimalnath,
DodooArhin David,
Kumar R. Vasant,
Sreenilayam Sithara Pavithran,
Brabazon Dermot,
Kumar Thakur Vijay,
Krishnamurthy Satheesh
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
global challenges
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2056-6646
DOI - 10.1002/gch2.202100120
Subject(s) - mxenes , surface modification , wastewater , environmental remediation , sewage treatment , materials science , nanotechnology , environmental science , biochemical engineering , environmental engineering , chemical engineering , engineering , contamination , ecology , biology
Over 80% of wastewater worldwide is released into the environment without proper treatment. Whilst environmental pollution continues to intensify due to the increase in the number of polluting industries, conventional techniques employed to clean the environment are poorly effective and are expensive. MXenes are a new class of 2D materials that have received a lot of attention for an extensive range of applications due to their tuneable interlayer spacing and tailorable surface chemistry. Several MXene‐based nanomaterials with remarkable properties have been proposed, synthesized, and used in environmental remediation applications. In this work, a comprehensive review of the state‐of‐the‐art research progress on the promising potential of surface functionalized MXenes as photocatalysts, adsorbents, and membranes for wastewater treatment is presented. The sources, composition, and effects of wastewater on human health and the environment are displayed. Furthermore, the synthesis, surface functionalization, and characterization techniques of merit used in the study of MXenes are discussed, detailing the effects of a range of factors (e.g., PH, temperature, precursor, etc.) on the synthesis, surface functionalization, and performance of the resulting MXenes. Finally, the limits of MXenes and MXene‐based materials as well as their potential future research directions, especially for wastewater treatment applications are highlighted.