MXene (Ti₃C₂T_x) film prepared by vacuum-assisted filtration (V-MXene film) is the most common 2D MXene macroscopic assembly with ultra-high electrical conductivity, tunable interlayer space, diverse surface chemical properties, favorable mechanical properties and so on, showing great commercial value in the fields of energy storage, electromagnetic interference shielding and actuators and so on. This paper focuses on the preparation, properties and applications of V-MXene film, objectively reviews and evaluates the important research progress of V-MXene film in recent years and analyzes the main problems at present. In addition, the development direction and trend of V-MXene film in the future are prospected from the aspects of preparation, property control and application fields, which provide guidance and inspiration for the further development of functional MXene-based films and make contributions to the progress of MXene technology.

As a kind of efficient adsorptive material, hydrogel has a wide application prospect within different fields, owing to its unique 3D network structures composed of polymers. In this paper, different synthetic strategies, crosslinking methods and their corresponding limitations and outstanding contributions of applications in the fields of removing environmental pollutants are reviewed to further provide a prospective view of their applications in water resources sustainability. Furthermore, the applications within the biomedical field, especially in wound dressing, are also reviewed in this paper, mainly due to their unique water retention ability, antibacterial ability, and good biocompatibility. Finally, the development direction of hydrogels in the fields of environmental remediation and biomedicine were summarized and prospected.

Graphene is attracting much attention in condensed matter physics and material science in the two-dimensional(2D) system due to its special structure, and mechanical and electronic properties. However, the lack of electronic bandgap and uncontrollable phase structure greatly limit its application in semiconductors, such as power conversion devices, optoelectronic devices, transistors, etc. During the past few decades, 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with much more phase structures have attracted intensive research interest in fundamental studies and practical applications for energy storage, as catalysts, and in piezoelectricity, energy harvesting, electronics, optoelectronic, and spintronics. The controllable phase transition also provides another degree of freedom to pave the way for more novel devices. In this review, we introduce the abundant phase structures of 2D-TMDs, including 2H, 1T, 1T’ and charge density waves, and highlight the corresponding attractive properties and applications of each phase. In addition, all the possible methods to trigger the phase transition in TMDs are systematically introduced, including strain engineering, electron doping, alloying, thermal, electric field, and chemical absorption. Finally, the outlook of future opportunities in TMD phase transitions and the corresponding challenges, including both the synthesis and applications, are also addressed.

Fiber-reinforced resin composites (FRRCs) are widely used in several fields such as construction, automotive, aerospace, and power. Basalt fiber (BF) has been increasingly used to replace artificial fibers such as glass fiber and carbon fiber in the production of BF-reinforced resin matrix composites (BFRRCs). This preference stems from its superior properties, including high temperature resistance, chemical stability, ease of manufacturing, cost-effectiveness, non-toxicity, and its natural, environmentally friendly characteristics. However, the chemical inertness of BF endows it with poor compatibility, adhesion, and dispersion in a resin matrix, leading to poor adhesion and a weak BF–resin interface. The interfacial bonding strength between BF and resin is an important parameter that determines the service performance of BFRRC. Therefore, the interfacial bonding strength between them can be improved through fiber modification, resin–matrix modification, mixed enhancers, etc., which consequently upgrade the mechanical properties, thermodynamic properties, and durability of BFRRC. In this review, first, the production process and properties of BFs are presented. Second, the mechanical properties, thermodynamic properties, and durability of BFRRC are introduced. Third, the modification effect of the non-destructive surface-modification technology of BF on BFRRC is presented herein. Finally, based on the current research status, the future research direction of BFRRC is proposed, including the development of high-performance composite materials, green manufacturing processes, and intelligent applications.

Ceramics have become indispensable materials for a wide range of industrial applications due to their excellent properties. However, the traditional preparation of ceramic materials is often time-consuming and involves high sintering temperatures. These result in considerable energy consumption and high production costs, which limit the application of these materials in some industries. This paper focuses on the advent of polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) technology, which enabled the application of ceramics to fibers, composites, coatings, and films, mainly due to the excellent design, process, and low-temperature ceramic properties. We review and evaluate the important research progress made in polymer-derived ceramics technology in recent years and discuss its recent development into high-entropy ceramics. The development of polymer-derived ceramics technology in the field of high-entropy ceramics has broad research prospects, which can greatly improve the understanding and design of high-entropy materials and accelerate their application in the industrial field.