Energy storage is becoming a critical issue due to the diminishing availability of fossil fuels and the intermittent nature of current renewable energy sources. As a result, thermal management (TM) and thermal energy systems have gained significant attention due to their crucial roles in various industries. Among the different TM materials, MXenes, a member of the transition metal carbide/nitride family, have emerged as a promising material due to their unique 2D nanostructure, changeable surface chemistry, high electrical/thermal conductivity, light absorptivity, and low infrared emissivity. This review outlines the synthesis methods of MXenes and their various features and applications in thermal management. These 2D materials exhibit outstanding optical and thermal properties, making them suitable for thermal energy generation and storage. The study also covers the potential applications of MXene in the desalination industry, hybrid photovoltaic thermal systems, solar energy storage, electronics, and other thermal management related industries. The findings suggest that MXene-based TM materials have remarkable features that significantly influence thermal energy storage and conversion and present opportunities for further research in efficiently using these materials.

In today’s fast, globalised world, lubrication has become essential in enhancing engine efficiency, including in the marine sector. While the number of fishing vessels increased, so did the environmental pollution issues, due to inefficient engines. An outboard engine oil’s tribological, oxidation and thermal conductivity behaviour play a crucial role in improving the quality of an outboard engine’s life. In this research, Ti₃C₂T_x MXene nanoparticles with different interlayer spacing were synthesised via an advanced microwave–hydrothermal approach. Later, the nanoparticles were dispersed in TC-W outboard engine oil to formulate the Ti₃C₂T_x MXene nanolubricant with different concentrations. The results show that nanolubricant with a 0.01 wt.% Ti₃C₂T_x MXene concentration with higher interlayer spacing reduced the coefficient of friction, and the average wear scar diameter by 14.5% and 6.3%, respectively, compared to the base oil. Furthermore, the nanolubricant with a 0.01 wt.% concentration of the Ti₃C₂T_x MXene nanoparticle showed an improvement of 54.8% in oxidation induction time compared to the base oil. In addition, MXene nanolubricant established a more than 50% improvement in thermal conductivity compared to the base oil.

Recently, there has been a shift towards renewable energy sources for electricity generation due to rapidly depleting non-renewable energy sources. Solar energy is generally the most promising renewable energy source to be harvested by concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies. CSP technology can be further classified into a few categories, such as parabolic trough collector (PTC), solar power tower (SPT), linear Fresnel reflector (LFR), and solar parabolic dish (SPD). In contrast, solar PV can be further developed into concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) and concentrated photovoltaic thermal (CPVT) systems. The modifications (e.g. optical and thermal modifications) done on PTC and parabolic trough based CPVT systems on enhancing system performance were also discussed. Next, the economic analyses conducted for both systems were also discussed to compare the economic feasibility of the technologies employed in different countries. The appropriate recycling and CE approaches applied for PTC and PV technologies were also reviewed and classified based on the key material elements within this industry. Overall, this paper compared PTC and parabolic trough-based CPVT systems from the technical, economic, and environmental aspects to provide insight for the solar energy harvesting field researchers.