Printed Devices with MXene Active Layers and Their Applications

Abstract

MXenes have demonstrated strong potential across a wide range of applications due to their outstanding properties, evidenced by the impressive performance of MXene-based devices reported to date. As the field moves toward commercialization, identifying methods and technologies compatible with scalable manufacturing has become increasingly important. In this context, direct-write printing has emerged as a transformative approach in printed and flexible electronics because it enables the deposition of functional metallic, semiconducting, and dielectric films with controlled thickness from tailored inks. Printing is also cost-effective because it simplifies processing and reduces infrastructure and logistical requirements. Printing is especially attractive for wearable devices because it can produce thin films on both rigid and flexible substrates. Although researchers have prepared MXene active layers using a wide variety of techniques, direct-write printing has shown considerable promise in recent studies. This spotlight article highlights recent advances in MXene applications in energy storage and harvesting, electromagnetic interference shielding, and antennas, along with background on ink formulation and thin-film fabrication using common printing methods.