2D MBenes, early transition metal borides, are a very recent derivative of ternary or quaternary transition metal boride (MAB) phases and represent a new member in the flatland. Although holding great potential toward various applications, mainly theoretical knowledge about their potential properties is available. Theoretical calculations and preliminary experimental attempts demonstrate their rich chemistry, excellent reactivity, mechanical strength/stability, electrical conductivity, transition properties, and energy harvesting possibility. Compared to MXenes, MBenes’ structure appears to be more complex due to multiple crystallographic arrangements, polymorphism, and structural transformations. This makes their synthesis and subsequent delamination into single flakes challenging. Overcoming this bottleneck will enable a rational control over MBenes’ material–structure–property relationship. Innovations in MBenes’ postprocessing approaches will allow for the design of new functional systems and devices with multipurpose functionalities thus opening a promising paradigm for the conscious design of high‐performance 2D materials.

Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer widely used as a medical textile in healthcare applications due to its low cost and superior performance. However, it does not show antibacterial properties leading to the possibility of pathogen transmission. Herein, we have developed an antibacterial medical fabric by facile self-assembly of delaminated two-dimensional (2D) Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene flakes bristling on the surface of PP fibers. The increasing amount of MXene in the coating solution from 1 up to 32 mg/mL allowed for edge-on assembly of MXene flakes on the PP surface and tracking the evolution of the band gap for a restacked structure. Characterization of the PP/Ti 3 C 2 T x nanocomposite has proven that it exhibited highly effective antibacterial, robust coating, and chemically/thermally stable properties. The in vitro microbiological studies against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus have shown that PP/Ti 3 C 2 T x reduced the bacterial viability up to 100%, as driven by synergistic membrane stress mediated by physical contact and light-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Moreover, the use of L-ascorbic acid for MXene stabilization allowed for achieving excellent thermal stability of the PP/Ti 3 C 2 T x nanocomposite upon accelerated thermal aging. Collectively, this work provides a facile surface engineering strategy for designing medical fabrics with outstanding functional performances. By demonstrating the exceptional performance of the stabilized MXene in a self-assembly nanocomposite structure, we are opening the door for MXenes to be applied in other biomedical fields.

Two‐dimensional MXenes are excellent photocatalysts. However, their low oxidation stability makes controlling photocatalytic processes challenging. For the first time, this work elucidates the influence of the oxidation stabilization of model 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene on its optical and photocatalytic properties. The delaminated MXene is synthesized via two well‐established approaches: hydrofluoric acid/tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH‐MXene) and minimum intensive layer delamination with hydrochloric acid/lithium fluoride (MILD‐MXene) and then stabilized by L‐ascorbic acid. Both MXenes at a minimal concentration of 32 mg L−1 show almost 100% effectiveness in the 180‐min photocatalytic decomposition of 25 mg L−1 model methylene blue and bromocresol green dyes. Industrial viability is achieved by decomposing a commercial textile dye having 100 times higher concentration than that of model dyes. In such conditions, MILD‐MXene is the most efficient due to less wide optical band gap than TMAOH‐MXene. The MILD‐MXene required only few seconds of UV light, simulated white light, or 500 nm (cyan) light irradiation to fully decompose the dye. The photocatalytic mechanism of action is associated with the interplay between surface dye adsorption and the reactive oxygen species generated by MXene under light irradiation. Importantly, both MXenes are successfully reused and retained approximately 70% of their activity.

Background: There is a need for more effective methods of industrial wastewater treatment. Methods: Cosmetic wastewater was collected and subjected to H2O2/Fe3O4/Fe2O3/Fe0 and UV/H2O2/Fe3O4/Fe2O3/Fe0 process treatment. Results: Total organic carbon (TOC) was decreased from an initial 306.3 to 134.1 mg/L, 56.2% TOC removal, after 120 min of treatment for 1:1 H2O2/COD mass ratio and 500/500/1000 mg/L Fe3O4/Fe2O3/Fe0 catalyst doses. The application chromatographic analysis allowed for the detection and identification of pollutants present in the wastewater. Identified pollutants were removed during the treatment processes. Processes carried out at a pH greater than 3.0 were ineffective. The UV process was more effective than the lightless process. Conclusions: The applied processes are effective methods for wastewater treatment. Chromatographic results confirmed the effectiveness of the treatment method. The kinetics of the process were described by the modified second-order model. On the basis of ANOVA results, the hypothesis regarding the accuracy and reproducibility of the research was confirmed.

Wastewater from a cosmetic factory, with an initial total organic carbon (TOC) of 146.4 mg/L, was treated with Fe2O3/Fe0/H2O2, Fe3O4/Fe0/H2O2, light/Fe2O3/Fe0/H2O2, and light/Fe3O4/Fe0/H2O2 processes. The light-supported processes were more effective than the lightless processes. The fastest TOC removal was observed during the first 15 min of the process. Out of the four tested kinetic models, the best fit was obtained for the modified second-order reaction with respect to the TOC value. The best treatment efficiency was obtained for the light/Fe3O4/Fe0/H2O2 process with 250/750 mg/L Fe3O4/Fe0 reagent doses, a 1:1 hydrogen peroxide to Chemical Oxygen Demand (H2O2/COD) mass ratio, and a 120 min process time. These conditions allowed 75.7% TOC removal to a final TOC of 35.52 mg/L and 90.5% total nitrogen removal to a final content of 4.9 mg/L. The five-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand to Chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5/COD) ratio was increased slightly from 0.124 to 0.161. Application of Head Space Solid-Phase Microextraction Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) analysis allows for the detection and identification of 23 compounds contained in the raw wastewater. The identified compounds were eliminated during the applied process. The HS-SPME-GC-MS results confirmed the high efficiency of the treatment processes.