Application and research progress of MXene-based materials in fire safety

Fire safety a persistent global challenge. MXene has demonstrated significant potential in flame retardancy and fire sensing applications owing to its two-dimensional layered structure, high conductivity, tunable surface chemistry, and high thermal stability. This review focuses on the three stages of fire safety: pre-fire prevention, in-fire early warning, and post-fire rescue. Starting from the application of MXene-based materials in passive fire protection, active fire protection, and fire rescue safety strategies, it systematically reviews their use as flame-retardant coatings and fillers, highlighting the synergistic mechanism of “physical barrier-catalytic char formation-thermally stable support” to enhance the fire safety of materials. The review further provides an in-depth analysis of the latest research progress and working mechanisms of MXene-based fire alarm sensors, including thermal resistance, thermoelectric, and thermal deformation types, as well as rescue-oriented and distress-signaling fire rescue sensors. Additionally, it discusses the challenges in this field, such as the oxidation stability of MXene, multifunctional integration, and device reliability, while offering future perspectives from the angles of material design and system integration. This review aims to provide insights for the rational design of MXene-based intelligent fire-safe materials and devices for practical applications.