Cellulose-based functional textiles through surface nano-engineering with MXene and MXene-based composites

Abstract

The emergence of smart textiles with the ability to regulate body temperature, monitor human motion, exhibit antibacterial properties, sound fire alarms, and offer fire resistance has sparked considerable interest in recently. MXene displays remarkable attributes like high metallic conductivity, electromagnetic shielding capability, and photothermal/electrothermal properties. Furthermore, due to the highly polar surface groups, MXene nanosheets show exceptional hydrophilic properties and are able to establish strong connections with the polar surfaces of natural fabrics. This review focuses on the most recent developments in altering the surface of cellulosic textiles with MXene and MXene-based composites. The combination of MXene with other modifier agents, such as phosphorous compounds, graphene, carbon nanotube, conductive polymers, antibacterial macromolecules, superhydrophobic polymers, and metal or metal oxide nanoparticles, imparts diverse functionalities to textiles, such as self-cleaning and fire resistance. Moreover, the synergistic effects between these modifier agents with MXenes can improve MXene-related properties like antibacterial, photothermal, electrothermal, and motion- and fire-sensing characteristics.