Intercalation and delamination in MXene: unlocking structural evolution and functional applications

MXene, an emerging class of two-dimensional (2D) materials, has attracted considerable attention due to its exceptional electronic, mechanical, and chemical properties. Despite extensive progress, the fundamental mechanisms governing intercalation and delamination, which are important for tailoring MXene functional properties, remain largely unexplored. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of these processes, emphasizing their critical roles in defining MXene structures, performance, and applications. We first investigate the electronic properties, morphological features, crystal structures, and evolutionary pathways of MXene, with particular attention to the transformative effects of intercalation and delamination. Various intercalation mechanisms and types are discussed, along with their influence on structural, electronic, and surface characteristics. Delamination strategies, including chemical, electrochemical, and mechanical methods, are also systematically analyzed. In addition, we explore interlayer-space engineering and advanced characterization techniques to assess structural and surface-chemical modifications. Furthermore, this review highlights the structural diversity of MXene morphologies and identifies the key factors governing their formation and stability. Finally, we emphasize MXene’s potential in photocatalysis, covering applications such as hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, CO 2 reduction, nitrogen fixation, H 2 O 2 production, overall water splitting, and pollutant degradation. This review aims to provide a foundational understanding of intercalation and delamination in MXene, offering insights to propel their development in energy, environment, and other emerging technological applications. • Advanced synthesis techniques of MXene have been explored. • Versatile intercalation and delamination methods for MXene were investigated. • Different morphology aspects of MXene were highlighted. • A detailed description of different techniques and characterization of MXene is given. • A broad spectrum of photocatalytic applications of MXene has been explored.