Since their discovery at Drexel University in 2011, MXene materials have demonstrated unrivaled properties capable of addressing global technological challenges in fields such as energy storage, electromagnetic shielding, telecommunications, water purification, smart textiles and biomedical technology. Thousands of scientists around the world are now involved with MXene research.
In response to growing interest in this family of materials, the A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute hosted the 2nd annual International MXene Conference at Drexel University on August 1-3, 2022. This conference brought together companies, researchers, investors and students to identify basic research problems and the future technologies that will use MXenes to address current global challenges. Over 200 participants from 27 countries attended the conference online and in person. The National Science Foundation covered the cost of attendance for a large number of students from U.S. universities.
Chaired by Distinguished Professor Michel Barsoum and Distinguished University and Bach Professor Yury Gogotsi from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Professor Masoud Soroush from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, the conference featured 69 invited speakers and an 88-entry poster session. Along with a comprehensive assessment of the properties and technical potential of MXenes, attendees heard from investors and venture capitalists about why and how they would invest in MXenes, and from editors of top journals on how to publish on MXenes.
The next planned MXene event at Drexel University will be a four-day MXene course in February 2023 providing instruction in the synthesis and characterization of MXenes, along with sections on electrochemical and biomedical applications. Additional information about the course and the ongoing MXene research at Drexel University can be found at the A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute website.