Two-dimensional materials have secured a novel area of research in material science after the emergence of graphene. Now, a new family of 2D material-MXene is gradually growing and making itsmark in this field of study. MXenes since 2011 have been synthesized and experimented on in several ways.The HF treatment although successful poses some serious problems that gradually propelled the ideas of new synthesis methods. This review of the literature covers the major breakthroughs of MXene from the year of its discovery to recent endeavors, highlighting how the synthesis mechanisms have been developed over the years and also the importance of good characterization of data. Results and properties of this class of materials arealso briefly discussed alongwith recent advance in applications.

A very thin graphene nanoribbon/polyvinyl alcohol (GNR/PVA) composite film has been developed which is light weight and requires a very low concentration of filler to achieve electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding as high as 60 dB in the X band. Atomic force microscope studies show very well conjugated filler concentration in the PVA matrix for varying concentrations of GNR supported by Raman spectroscopy data. The films show 14 orders of increase in conductivity with a GNR concentration of 0.75% [corrected] in PVA. This is possible because of the interconnected GNR network providing a very low percolation threshold as observed from the electrical measurements. Local density of states study of GNR using scanning tunnelling spectroscopy shows the presence of localized states near the Fermi energy. There are multiple advantages of GNR as an EMI shielding material in a polymer matrix. It has good dispersion in water, the conductive network in the composite shows very high electrical conductivity for a very low concentration of GNR and the presence of localized density of states near Fermi energy provides the spin states required for the absorbance of radiation energy in the X band.