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Page 46 of 57 Zheng et al. Soft Sci. 2026, 6, 32

two-dimensional materials. With a specific capacitance of 740 F·g , the resultant CNT-VA-GMF material
-1
maintains 98% capacitance retention after 30,000 cycles. With an energy density of 224 Wh·kg , the
-1
assembled flexible supercapacitor sets a new standard for high-rate energy storage in fiber electrodes and
anisotropic functional design .
[176]

To overcome their weak out-of-plane bonding, nanosheets must improve their interlayer contacts, which are
mostly accomplished by chemical crosslinking and interfacial reinforcement techniques. On the one hand,
ionic bonding with oxygen-containing functional groups on MXene or GO surfaces is made possible by
adding multivalent metal ions (e.g., Ca , Mg ) to the spinning solution. These ions operate as “bridging”
2+
2+
crosslinks that greatly increase interlayer bonding strength and fiber density [145,179] . For instance, in order to
achieve high tensile strength, Du et al. used Ca during the manufacturing of MXene/RGO fibers, where the
2+
crosslinking effect was essential . However, stronger covalent bonds, hydrogen bonds, or electrostatic
[38]
interactions can be introduced by surface modification or blending with functional molecules such as
chitosan, conductive polymers like PEDOT:PSS, or PDA biomimetic coatings. This improves interfacial
adhesion and creates stronger conductive networks . Additionally, research into basic assembly methods
[70]
offers vital information for the production of fiber. For example, as shown in Figure 15D, Yang et al. found
that constrained water molecules create ordered hydrogen-bond networks between two-dimensional
nanosheets, causing and sustaining parallel sheet alignment . This idea provides useful information for
[36]
minimizing internal flaws and improving the drying and solidification of gel fibers during wet spinning.

In conclusion, graphene/MXene composite fibers may successfully combine the benefits of each component
thanks to synergistic techniques including core-shell encapsulation, ordered assembly with size matching,
and chemical/interface engineering. This creates a solid material foundation for the creation of
next-generation weavable, long-lasting smart textiles by achieving a harmonious balance of high
conductivity, high strength and toughness, and outstanding environmental stability.

Benefits of performance
A crucial strategy for overcoming the drawbacks of single materials, accomplishing multifunctional
integration, and improving the overall performance of macroscopic fibers is hybridizing graphene with
MXene composites or other materials (such as polymers, CNTs, etc.). Through interfacial cooperation and
structural design, this approach not only makes up for the weaknesses of individual components but also
creates synergistic effects that result in improved mechanical, electrical, and functional qualities where the
whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Weak interlayer Van der Waals contacts and defects/voids created during construction limit the mechanical
characteristics of pure graphene or MXene fibers. Stress transmission channels are efficiently constructed
and interfacial bonding is improved by the use of polymer matrices (such as PU, ANFs) or one-dimensional
nanomaterials (such as CNTs). While CNTs or surface-functionalized components (such as those treated
with polydopamine) might create interlayer “bridges” to increase load transfer efficiency, polymers improve
fiber flexibility and elongation at break through toughening mechanisms . For instance, fiber mechanical
[180]
strength is greatly increased while keeping excellent conductivity when MXene functionalized with
polydopamine and mixed with GO to generate nitrogen-doped carbon bridges following carbonization. At
42 weight percent MXene content, vertically oriented MXene/PEDOT/graphene (MGP) composite fibers
created by Guan et al. shown synergistic optimization of mechanical and electrical properties with a tensile
strength of 173 MPa and electrical conductivity of 400 S·cm [Figure 15E and F] .
-1
[176]
In terms of electrical and electrochemical performance, more effective electronic conduction networks can
be built by combining the high carrier mobility of graphene with the metallic-like conductivity of MXene. By
reducing contact resistance and creating channels for ion diffusion, the introduction of CNTs creates