Recent advances in the thermoelectric properties of MXenes challenges and opportunities: A review

MXenes have emerged as versatile materials due to their distinct combination of metallic conductivity, hydrophilicity, mechanical flexibility, and tunable surface chemistry. These properties have enabled their application across various fields such as energy storage, catalysis, and biomedical devices, with thermoelectric energy conversion acquiring attention. MXene distinguishes for its exceptional hardness, high melting point, and electrical conductivity, making it a strong candidate for thermoelectric applications, particularly under high temperature factors. This review provides an overview of the latest advances in the thermoelectric performance of MXenes. We discuss strategies such as doping, hetero structure formation, and defect engineering that have been used to improve parameters, including the Seebeck coefficient and to suppress lattice thermal conductivity, thereby improving the figure of merit (ZT). Challenges related to synthesis scalability, material stability, and the undermine between electrical and thermal transport are crucially evaluated. This study emphasizes directions for the future, including the evaluation of hybrid thermoelectric device systems and environmentally sustainable synthesis methods, to facilitate the practical deployment of MXene-based thermoelectric devices. • A dedicated focus on thermoelectric performance metrics (Seebeck coefficient, electrical/thermal conductivity, power factor, and ZT). • Integration of experimental and computational insights, including band structure engineering and carrier transport mechanisms. • Comparative evaluation of prominent MXene systems such as V₂C, Ti₃C₂, Nb₂C, and Mo₂C, highlighting composition–property relationships. • Extensive use of schematics, comparative tables, and performance maps to enhance accessibility for a broad energy research audience.