MXenes and Clay Minerals in the Framework of the 2D Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Nanomaterials

This review introduces a critical comparison on the chemistry of two-dimensional (2D) solids based on clay silicates and MXenes, in relation to their common properties and especially their ability to produce organic derivatives. Hybrid materials derived from 2D solids are extraordinarily vast and rich mainly in chemical processes based on intercalation and delamination reactions that facilitate interactions between inorganic layers and organic compounds through various physicochemical mechanisms. Clay phyllosilicates and MXene carbides/carbonitrides are nowadays the most representative 2D inorganic solids capable of generating a wide variety of hybrid materials based on organic-inorganic interactions. Clay-organic materials have been known for several decades, while MXenes are an emerging group of 2D solids with similar properties but also with electronic conductivity. Here is introduced a comparison of their characteristics as chemical composition, reactivity, and intercalation properties, which is the basis for the preparation of a large number of hybrid materials, nanocomposites, and functional bionanocomposites, especially from molecular intercalation and assembly of carbon nanoparticles, polymers, and biopolymers. The resulting hybrid materials attract outstanding interest due to their potential applications in diverse fields such as electromagnetic interference, gas separation, electrode materials for sensing devices, supercapacitors, and photothermal and conductive devices, and biomedical uses, among others.