The escalating global energy crisis and the accelerating integration of intermittent renewable sources have intensified the demand for advanced electrochemical energy storage (EES) systems, including high-performance supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the performance of contemporary EES devices is often constrained by the intrinsic limitations of conventional electrode materials, such as insufficient electrical conductivity, sluggish ion transport kinetics, and inadequate cycling stability. In this context, the strategic hybridization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and two-dimensional transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes) has emerged as a compelling paradigm for overcoming these bottlenecks. This review provides a comprehensive and critical analysis of the recent research progress and application prospects of MOF@MXene composites in the realm of electrochemical energy storage. We commence by delineating the fundamental properties and inherent shortcomings of individual MOF and MXene components: MOFs offer exceptional specific surface areas, tunable porosity, and abundant active sites but suffer from poor intrinsic conductivity, while MXenes provide metallic conductivity and rich surface chemistry yet are prone to detrimental restacking and oxidation. The synergistic integration of these materials into MOF@MXene heterostructures effectively mitigates these individual drawbacks, yielding a unique interfacial synergy that enhances electronic conductivity, facilitates rapid ion diffusion, and reinforces structural integrity. The review systematically examines the primary synthesis methodologies for constructing MOF@MXene architectures, followed by an in-depth exploration of their charge storage mechanisms. Specifically, we analyze the cooperative interplay between electric double-layer capacitance and Faradaic pseudocapacitance in supercapacitor applications and elucidate the pathways for lithium-ion insertion/extraction, enhanced diffusion coefficients, and improved long-term cycling stability in LIB anodes. By consolidating key advancements and structure-performance correlations, this review aims to provide valuable insights and a forward-looking perspective on the rational design of next-generation MOF@MXene composites for high-energy-density, high-power, and durable electrochemical energy storage devices.
References
[1] Lv, Z., Li, W., Yang, L., Loh, X. J., Chen, X. (2019) Custom-made electrochemical energy storage devices. ACS Energy Letters, 4(2), 606-614.
[2] Yuan, S., Huang, X., Kong, T., Yan, L., Wang, Y. (2024) Organic electrode materials for energy storage and conversion: mechanism, characteristics, and applications. Accounts of Chemical Research, 57(10), 1550-1563.
[3] Du, R., Wu, Y., Yang, Y., Zhai, T., Zhou, T., Shang, Q., Zhu, L., Shang, C., Guo, Z. (2021) Porosity engineering of MOF‐based materials for electrochemical energy storage. Advanced Energy Materials, 11(20), 2100154.
[4] Xie, L. S., Skorupskii, G., Dinca, M. (2020) Electrically conductive metal-organic frameworks. Chemical Reviews, 120(16), 8536-8580.
[5] Lin, X., Song, D., Shao, T., Xue, T., Hu, W., Jiang, W., Liu, N. (2024) A multifunctional biosensor via MXene assisted by conductive metal-organic framework for healthcare monitoring. Advanced Functional Materials, 34(11), 2311637.
[6] Ji, Y., Li, W., You, Y., Xu, G. (2024) In situ synthesis of M (Fe, Cu, Co and Ni)-MOF@ MXene composites for enhanced specific capacitance and cyclic stability in supercapacitor electrodes. Chemical Engineering Journal, 496, 154009.
[7] Yang, L., Cao, L. N., Li, S., Peng, P., Qian, H., Amaratunga, G., Wei, D. (2024) MOFs/MXene nano-hierarchical porous structures for efficient ion dynamics. Nano Energy, 129, 110076.
[8] Li, C., Shen, J., Wu, K., Yang, N. (2022) Metal centers and organic ligands determine electrochemistry of meta-organic frameworks. Small, 18(11), 2106607.
[9] Gao, M. L., Xue, T., Li, J., Guo, L., Zheng, H. Q., Lu, J., Jiang, H. L. (2025) The synthesis, characterization and applications of metal-organic frameworks. Chinese Science Bulletin, 71(2), 370-399.
[10] Duan, S., Qian, L., Zheng, Y., Zhu, Y., Liu, X., Dong, L., Zhang, J. (2024) Mechanisms of the accelerated Li+ conduction in MOF‐based solid‐state polymer electrolytes for all‐solid‐state lithium metal batteries. Advanced Materials, 36(32), 2314120.
[11] Hu, R., Li, Y. H., Zhang, Z. H., Fan, Z. Q., Sun, L. (2019) O-Vacancy-line defective Ti2CO2 nanoribbons: novel magnetism, tunable carrier mobility, and magnetic device behaviors. Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 7(25), 7745-7759.
[12] Theyagarajan, K., Kim, Y. J. (2024) Metal organic frameworks based wearable and point-of-care electrochemical sensors for healthcare monitoring. Biosensors, 14(10), 492.
[13] Rahman, U. U., Humayun, M., Ghani, U., Usman, M., Ullah, H., Khan, A., Khan, A. (2022) MXenes as emerging materials: synthesis, properties, and applications. Molecules, 27(15), 4909.
[14] Das, P., Wu, Z. S. (2020) MXene for energy storage: present status and future perspectives. Journal of Physics: Energy, 2(3), 032004.
[15] Liu, S., Zhang, H., Chen, J., Peng, X., Chai, Y., Shao, X., Ding, B. (2025) Functionalization strategies of MXene architectures for electrochemical energy storage applications. Energies, 18(5), 1223.
[16] Devarayapalli, K. C., Lim, Y., Manchuri, A. R., Kim, B., Kim, G., Lee, D. S. (2024) Nickel 2‐Methylimidazole Metal-Organic Framework Ultrathin Nanosheets/Titanium Carbide MXene Hybrid Nanostructure as a Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Methanol and Urea Oxidation Reactions. International Journal of Energy Research, 2024(1), 8883022.
[17] Suganthi, S., Ahmad, K., Oh, T. H. (2024) Progress in MOFs and MOFs-integrated MXenes as electrode modifiers for energy storage and electrochemical sensing applications. Molecules, 29(22), 5373.
[18] Yu, K., Zhang, J., Hu, Y., Wang, L., Zhang, X., Zhao, B. (2024) Ni doped Co-MOF-74 synergized with 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene as an efficient electrocatalyst for overall water-splitting. Catalysts, 14(3), 184.
[19] Khosroshahi, N., Bakhtian, M., Asadi, A., Safarifard, V. (2023) Revolutionizing energy storage: the emergence of MOF/MXene composites as promising supercapacitors. Nano Express, 4(4), 042002.
[20] Cai, Y., Chen, X., Xu, Y., Zhang, Y., Liu, H., Zhang, H., Tang, J. (2024) Ti3C2Tx MXene/carbon composites for advanced supercapacitors: synthesis, progress, and perspectives. Carbon Energy, 6(2), e501.
[21] Wang, Y., Wang, Y., Jian, M., Jiang, Q., Li, X. (2024) MXene key composites: a new arena for gas sensors. Nano-Micro Letters, 16(1), 209.
[22] Ma, H., Luo, S., Cong, J., Yan, S. (2025) Applications of MOFs and their derivatives in lithium-oxygen battery cathodes: development and challenges. Inorganics, 13(2), 56.
[23] Tahir, B., Alraeesi, A., Tahir, M. (2024) Metal-organic framework (MOF) integrated Ti3C2 MXene composites for CO2 reduction and hydrogen production applications: a review on recent advances and future perspectives. Frontiers in Chemistry, 12, 1448700.
[24] Zhang, X., Wang, Z., Guo, X. (2025) Confinement-induced Ni-based MOF formed on Ti3C2Tx MXene support for enhanced capacitive Deionization of chromium (VI). Scientific Reports, 15(1), 3727.
[25] Prabhakar Vattikuti, S. V., Shim, J., Rosaiah, P., Mauger, A., Julien, C. M. (2023) Recent advances and strategies in MXene-based electrodes for supercapacitors: applications, challenges and future prospects. Nanomaterials, 14(1), 62.
[26] Zheng, B., Liu, X., Hua, Y. (2024) MOF-derived ZnCo2O4@ Ti3C2Tx nanosheet with high microwave absorption. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2845(1), 012028.
[27] Zhuang, X., Zhang, S., Tang, Y., Yu, F., Li, Z., Pang, H. (2023) Recent progress of MOF/MXene-based composites: synthesis, functionality and application. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 490, 215208.
[28] Thakur, K. K., Sharma, A. L., Singh, S. (2024) Exploring MXene-MOF composite for supercapacitor application. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 322, 129463.
[29] Du, Z., Liu, W., Liu, J., Chu, Z., Qu, F., Li, L., Shen, G. (2023) A thermally chargeable supercapacitor based on the g-C3N4-doped PAMPS/PAA hydrogel solid electrolyte and 2D MOF@ Ti3C2Tx MXene heterostructure composite electrode. Advanced Materials Interfaces, 10(17), 2300266.
[30] Liu, C., Bai, Y., Li, W., Yang, F., Zhang, G., Pang, H. (2022) In situ growth of three-dimensional MXene/metal-organic framework composites for high-performance supercapacitors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 61(11), e202116282.
[31] Qu, Y., Shi, C., Cao, H., Wang, Y. (2020) Synthesis of Ni-MOF/Ti3C2Tx hybrid nanosheets via ultrasonific method for supercapacitor electrodes. Materials Letters, 280, 128526.
[32] Ramachandran, R., Rajavel, K., Xuan, W., Lin, D., Wang, F. (2018) Influence of Ti3C2Tx (MXene) intercalation pseudocapacitance on electrochemical performance of Co-MOF binder-free electrode. Ceramics International, 44(12), 14425-14431.
[33] Wang, Y., Liu, Y., Wang, C., Liu, H., Zhang, J., Lin, J., Guo, Z. (2020) Significantly enhanced ultrathin NiCo-based MOF nanosheet electrodes hybrided with Ti3C2Tx MXene for high performance asymmetric supercapacitor. Engineered Science, 9(12), 50-59.
[34] Hong, C. N., Crom, A. B., Feldblyum, J. I., Lukatskaya, M. R. (2023) Metal-organic frameworks for fast electrochemical energy storage: Mechanisms and opportunities. Chem, 9(4), 798-822.
[35] Sun, L., Wang, H., Zhai, S., Sun, J., Fang, X., Yang, H., Wu, H. (2023) Dual-conductive metal-organic framework@ MXene heterogeneity stabilizes lithium-ion storage. Journal of Energy Chemistry, 76, 368-376.
[36] Chen, Y., Cheng, J., Wang, A., Liu, C., Yan, H., Qiu, Y., Luo, Y. (2024) The enhanced performance of Li-ion batteries based on Co-MOF/MXene composites. Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 159, 111793.
[37] Tang, Q., Wang, Y., Chen, N., Pu, B., Qing, Y., Zhang, M., Yang, W. (2024) Ultra‐Efficient Synthesis of Nb4C3Tx MXene via H2O‐Assisted Supercritical Etching for Li‐Ion Battery. Small Methods, 8(3), 2300836.
[38] Gong, W., Li, S. Q., Gao, F., Lin, J., Ye, Y., Yang, X. R., Zhou, N. G. (2023) Tailoring composites via in situ growth of Co-MOF on V2CTx MXene as high-performance anode for lithium-ion batteries. Solid State Ionics, 399, 116295.
[39] Mathew, A. E., Jose, S., Babu, A. M., Varghese, A. (2024) State of the art MOF-composites and MXene-composites: synthesis, fabrication and diverse applications. Materials Today Chemistry, 36, 101927.
[40] Ji, H., Liu, Y., Du, G., Huang, T., Zhu, Y., Sun, Y., Pang, H. (2024) Synthesis and utilization of MXene/MOF hybrid composite materials. Chemical Research in Chinese Universities, 40(6), 943-963.
[41] Li, H., Li, J., Ma, L., Zhang, X., Li, J., Li, J., Pan, L. (2023) Heteroatomic interface engineering of an octahedron VSe2-ZrO2/C/MXene composite derived from a MXene-MOF hybrid as a superior-performance anode for lithium-ion batteries. Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 11(6), 2836-2847.
[42] Tan, Y., Yang, L., Zhai, D., Sun, L., Zhai, S., Zhou, W., Wu, H. (2022) MXene‐derived metal‐organic framework@ MXene heterostructures toward electrochemical NO sensing. Small, 18(50), 2204942.
[43] Yue, L., Chen, L., Wang, X., Lu, D., Zhou, W., Shen, D., Li, Y. (2023) Ni/Co-MOF@ aminated MXene hierarchical electrodes for high-stability supercapacitors. Chemical Engineering Journal, 451, 138687.
[44] Cao, B., Liu, H., Zhang, X., Zhang, P., Zhu, Q., Du, H., Xu, B. (2021) MOF-derived ZnS nanodots/Ti3C2Tx MXene hybrids boosting superior lithium storage performance. Nano-micro letters, 13(1), 202.
[45] Yang, L., Cao, L. N., Li, S., Peng, P., Qian, H., Amaratunga, G., Wei, D. (2024) MOFs/MXene nano-hierarchical porous structures for efficient ion dynamics. Nano Energy, 129, 110076.
[46] Yang, Z., Weng, C., Gao, X., Meng, F., Ji, Y., Li, J., Pan, L. (2024) In situ construction of Sn-based metal-organic frameworks on MXene achieving fast electron transfer for rapid lithium storage. Chemical Engineering Journal, 486, 150299.
Share and Cite
Zhao,Q., Li, Y., Li, J., Zheng, W. (2025) Research Progress and Application Prospects of MOF@MXene Composites for Electrochemical Energy Storage. Scientific Research Bulletin, 2(6), 126-158. https://doi.org/10.71052/srb2024/WMRX1112