MXenes for sensing technology: from fundamental properties to diverse applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• MXenes are a novel class of 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides.
• They possess excellent electrical conductivity, tunable surface chemistry, and mechanical flexibility.
• These properties make them promising for advanced sensing applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review MXene-based sensors across five critical domains.
• To elucidate the structure-property relationships influencing MXene sensor performance.
• To highlight challenges and future perspectives for MXene sensing platforms.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on MXene-based sensors.
• Analysis of MXene sensor performance in gas, biosensing, pressure, acoustic, and thermal domains.
• Elucidation of the role of surface terminations and composite engineering.

Main Results:

• MXene sensors demonstrate high sensitivity in gas detection (ppb-level), biosensing, pressure/strain sensing (GF > 8000), acoustic sensing (<0.1 Pa), and thermal sensing (<0.1% °C⁻¹).
• Surface terminations and composite engineering significantly enhance MXene sensor performance.
• MXenes exhibit hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, and multimodal sensing capabilities.

Conclusions:

• MXenes are transformative materials for next-generation sensing platforms.
• Further research into smart systems, sustainable synthesis, and interdisciplinary strategies is needed.
• MXene-based sensors hold significant potential for diverse applications.