Advancements in 2D-TMD heterostructures for next generation electronic chemical sensors

Abstract

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have emerged as ubiquitous materials for next-generation electronic chemical sensors, offering exceptional electronic, chemical, optical, and mechanical properties. While pristine TMDs present a great avenue for chemical sensing, they grapple with inevitable flaws when integrated with existing electronic device technologies. These challenges can be explicated using interface engineering through heterostructure formation. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of significant progress in this burgeoning field, emphasizing key innovations in the performance of such sensors in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, power efficiency, and others. The article begins with an introduction that outlines the significance of TMDs and the need for low-power sensors in various technological contexts. Subsequently, the key challenges in TMD-based sensors and their viable contemporary solutions are discussed with a particular focus on materials forming heterostructures with TMD, the role of the materials' dimensionality, their use in different forms of electronic devices, and their applications in gas sensing, pH sensing, and heavy metal detection. Lastly, the conclusion and future scope section outlines potential avenues for the unfathomed development and optimization of TMDs in the realm of chemical sensing.