28 February 2024 | Ilya Navitski, Agne Ramanavičiūtė, Simonas Ramanavičius, Maksym Pogorielov, Arunas Ramanavičius
MXenes, a class of two-dimensional materials, have attracted significant attention due to their unique properties such as high electrical conductivity, tunable surface functionality, and mechanical flexibility. These properties make MXenes highly suitable for various sensing applications, including strain, pressure, temperature, humidity, and gas sensors. This review discusses the current state of research and potential future applications of MXene-based sensors.
MXene-based strain sensors leverage the material's high conductivity and tunable properties to detect mechanical deformation. For example, a strain sensor based on Ti3C2Tx and carbon nanotubes achieved an ultralow detection limit and high sensitivity. Similarly, MXene-based pressure sensors have shown excellent sensitivity and durability, with some sensors capable of detecting pressures as low as 1 Pa. These sensors are flexible, wearable, and can be integrated into various applications such as health monitoring and robotics.
Temperature sensors based on MXenes utilize the material's thermal expansion properties. A flexible temperature sensor using Ti3C2Tx MXene and sodium alginate hydrogel demonstrated high sensitivity and accuracy over a wide temperature range. Humidity sensors based on MXenes have also been developed, with some sensors showing exceptional sensitivity and response times. These sensors can detect humidity levels as low as 0.8% RH and are suitable for applications in agriculture, textiles, and food storage.
Gas sensors based on MXenes have shown promising results in detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ammonia. For example, a sensor based on Ti3C2Tx and W18O49 nanorods detected acetone at a very low concentration of 170 ppb. These sensors are highly sensitive and can be used in industrial safety, environmental monitoring, and personal health applications.
Overall, MXenes offer a versatile platform for developing advanced sensors with high sensitivity, durability, and flexibility. Ongoing research aims to further optimize these sensors for a wide range of applications, including wearable devices, environmental monitoring, and healthcare. The unique properties of MXenes make them a promising material for future sensor technologies.MXenes, a class of two-dimensional materials, have attracted significant attention due to their unique properties such as high electrical conductivity, tunable surface functionality, and mechanical flexibility. These properties make MXenes highly suitable for various sensing applications, including strain, pressure, temperature, humidity, and gas sensors. This review discusses the current state of research and potential future applications of MXene-based sensors.
MXene-based strain sensors leverage the material's high conductivity and tunable properties to detect mechanical deformation. For example, a strain sensor based on Ti3C2Tx and carbon nanotubes achieved an ultralow detection limit and high sensitivity. Similarly, MXene-based pressure sensors have shown excellent sensitivity and durability, with some sensors capable of detecting pressures as low as 1 Pa. These sensors are flexible, wearable, and can be integrated into various applications such as health monitoring and robotics.
Temperature sensors based on MXenes utilize the material's thermal expansion properties. A flexible temperature sensor using Ti3C2Tx MXene and sodium alginate hydrogel demonstrated high sensitivity and accuracy over a wide temperature range. Humidity sensors based on MXenes have also been developed, with some sensors showing exceptional sensitivity and response times. These sensors can detect humidity levels as low as 0.8% RH and are suitable for applications in agriculture, textiles, and food storage.
Gas sensors based on MXenes have shown promising results in detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ammonia. For example, a sensor based on Ti3C2Tx and W18O49 nanorods detected acetone at a very low concentration of 170 ppb. These sensors are highly sensitive and can be used in industrial safety, environmental monitoring, and personal health applications.
Overall, MXenes offer a versatile platform for developing advanced sensors with high sensitivity, durability, and flexibility. Ongoing research aims to further optimize these sensors for a wide range of applications, including wearable devices, environmental monitoring, and healthcare. The unique properties of MXenes make them a promising material for future sensor technologies.