MXenes, a family of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, have garnered a global attention for their diverse applications in energy storage, electromagnetic interference shielding, sensing, catalysis, biomedicine, and more. Traditionally, MXenes have been prepared by dissolving Al from the MAX phase using fluorine-based etching solutions. However, a greener alternative approach, that is, Lewis acidic etching via molten salt has recently emerged which avoids the use of harmful fluorine-based etchants and allows for the production of MXenes with tunable surface functionalities. In this comprehensive review article, the authors delve into the drawbacks of traditional fluorine-based MXene fabrication methods and showcase the advantages of the greener and more efficient approach of Lewis acid etching via molten salt. The chemical processes involved in the conventional and Lewis acid etching methods are discussed and a special emphasis is given on the structure–property relationship that can be tuned by using the later approach. This article is expected to be a valuable resource for researchers interested in the MXene fabrication and to inspire further development and innovation in this exciting and rapidly evolving field.

MXenes 是二维 (2D) 过渡金属碳化物、氮化物和碳氮化物家族，因其在能源存储、电磁干扰屏蔽、传感、催化、生物医学等领域的广泛应用而受到全球关注。传统上，MXene 是通过使用氟基蚀刻溶液溶解 MAX 相中的 Al 来制备的。然而，最近出现了一种更环保的替代方法，即通过熔盐进行路易斯酸性蚀刻，它避免使用有害的氟基蚀刻剂，并允许生产具有可调表面功能的 MXene。在这篇综合评论文章中，作者深入研究了传统氟基 MXene 制造方法的缺点，并展示了通过熔盐进行路易斯酸蚀刻的更环保、更高效的方法的优点。讨论了传统蚀刻方法和路易斯酸蚀刻方法中涉及的化学过程，并特别强调了可以通过使用后一种方法来调整的结构-性能关系。本文预计将成为对 MXene 制造感兴趣的研究人员的宝贵资源，并激发这个令人兴奋且快速发展的领域的进一步发展和创新。