Two-dimensional MXene Materials and Their Functionalized Hydrogels for Microbial Corrosion Protection

Microbial-induced corrosion (MIC), as one of the main causes of metal material failure, has caused severe economic losses in the fields of industrial equipment and infrastructure. In recent years, MXene has mainly achieved sterilization through structural characteristics, photothermal effects, and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The antibacterial performance of MXene hydrogels can be effectively enhanced through surface functionalization of MXene and its combination with various antibacterial materials, thus having application potential in the field of microbial corrosion protection. Moreover, MXene, with its unique layered structure and surface chemical properties, can be combined with hydrogels through methods such as physical mixing, chemical cross-linking and in-situ polymerization, which can significantly improve the performance of hydrogels. MXene-based antibacterial hydrogel, as a new type of material, shows great potential in the field of microbial corrosion protection. This article systematically reviews the basic characteristics, antibacterial mechanisms and applications in the field of antibacterial of MXene and its composite hydrogels. Unlike previous general reviews on MXene, this work specifically focuses on the mechanism-oriented analysis linking MXene’s physicochemical properties (ultrathin structure, photothermal effect, ROS generation) to biofilm development stages in microbial corrosion, and further summarizes coating barrier performance and electrochemical evaluation, providing a targeted framework for MIC protection. Overall, the research and application prospects of MXene in the field of antibacterial hydrogels are broad. Its unique physicochemical properties and diverse antibacterial mechanisms provide new solutions for it in multiple fields.