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Ti 3 C 2 T x (MXene), a new kind of 2D ceramic nanosheets, is receiving more and more attention in the fields of medicine, biology, energy, electronics, etc. However, the preparation and application of MXene in hydrogel is still in its infancy period. Here, we review the latest progress (after 2018) related to MXene hydrogels in time. Aiming at the key issue of the dispersion stability of MXene in hydrogel systems, the preparation strategy, mechanism, advantages and disadvantages of MXene hydrogels are sorted out in detail, and the potential application prospects of MXene composite hydrogel are introduced. Finally, future viewpoints are put forward for the dispersion stability challenges that need solving in the design of MXene hydrogel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The redox SL-Fe3+ chelates can shorten the hydrogel gelation time by 99.67%. • The hydrogel obtained stretchable, conductive, adhesive, and UV-blocking properties. • The green SL-Fe3+ chelates imparts excellent self-healing properties of the hydrogel. • The rapid preparation of soft multifunctional coatings electronics was proposed. Developing an ecological and economical method for fabrication and application of polymer hydrogels is important for the hydrogel/coating electronics. Here, a dynamic oxidation and coordination system composed of sulfonated lignin (SL) and Fe3+ was introduced to assemble multifunctional Fe-SL-g-polyacrylic acid (PAA) hydrogel at 20 ℃ in a time scale of minutes instead of hours. The SL-Fe3+ system can rapidly activate the ammonium persulfate (APS, initiator), and then it instantaneously provides abundant semiquinone and hydroxyl radicals to accelerate the formation of polymer chains. Moreover, the functional SL-Fe3+ chelates can also reversibly crosslink the polymer chains to form multifunctional hydrogels. Surprisingly, the resultant hydrogel obtained charming extension ratio (up to 1680%), conductivity (up to 7.0 × 10-2 S·m−1), and adhesive strength (up to 36.4 kPa). This technology was also applied to rapidly fabricate a transparent (up to 81%, thickness: 2 mm), UV-blocking (up to 99.7%, thickness: 2 mm), adhesive, and conductive hydrogel coating on substrates. Besides, the dynamic coordination inside the hydrogel imparts desirable self-healing capabilities to damaged network, with up to 98.5% recovery in conductivity and 85.7% in extension ratio. In short, this technology based on the sustainable SL-Fe3+ system greatly facilitates the rapid and low-cost preparation of multifunctional hydrogel/coatings, which have promising industrial applications in human–machine electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]