Drexel turns MXene into nanoscrolls in a push to make 2D nanomaterials more usable

Researchers at Drexel University say they have found a scalable way to convert MXene, a conductive two-dimensional nanomaterial, into tiny scroll-like tubes that could improve batteries, sensors and flexible electronics. The work, reported on March 31, 2026, is aimed at solving a familiar materials problem: how to keep the performance advantages of a nanomaterial while making it easier to process at scale.

From flat MXene flakes to open conductive tubes

The team says it formed nanoscrolls by starting with multilayer MXene flakes and altering the chemical environment so the layers curl inward rather than remain stacked. That change creates a more open geometry for ions and molecules to move through, instead of forcing them to navigate tightly packed sheets.

In the researchers’ description, the resulting structures are only about 100 times thinner than a human hair, but they are designed to preserve MXene’s conductivity while reducing the confinement that can slow transport in layered materials. The method was reported in Advanced Materials.

Why the scroll shape matters for batteries and sensors

The key technical advantage is access. In a conventional stacked 2D material, active surfaces can be buried between layers, which makes it harder for ions or analytes to reach them efficiently. A scroll-like form creates a hollow interior and a more exposed surface, which could improve performance in electrochemical capacitors, gas sensors and biosensors.

The same structure could also help in battery electrodes and desalination systems, where faster movement of ions is often a limiting factor. Drexel’s researchers also said the geometry may strengthen polymers and metals when used as a reinforcement material.

A scalable process with broader manufacturing implications

One of the most newsworthy details is the reported scale: the team said it produced 10 grams of nanoscrolls with controlled physical and chemical properties. That does not amount to commercial production, but it is a meaningful step beyond proof-of-concept synthesis, especially in a field where reproducibility often determines whether a material can move from the lab into device development.

The researchers also said they could align the scrolls in solution with an electric field, a feature that could matter for conductive coatings and smart textiles. If that control holds up in larger-format processing, it could make MXene-based materials more relevant to wearable electronics and flexible components.

MXene’s next test is practical deployment, not just performance

The study adds to growing interest in MXenes as a family of nanomaterials that can be easier to process than graphene while offering strong conductivity and rich surface chemistry. The open question is whether the nanoscroll format can be integrated into manufacturable devices without losing the control that makes the new shape useful in the first place.

For now, the advance is less a finished product than a clearer route toward usable MXene-based films, coatings and wires at room temperature, which is the kind of processing flexibility that can shape whether a nanomaterial stays in the lab or reaches industrial design teams.