Two-dimensional carbide and nitride (MXene) materials for healthcare monitoring and biosensing applications

Abstract

The rapid evolution of intelligent manufacturing and personalized healthcare has driven demand for high-performance, adaptable sensors. MXenes, a family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides/nitrides, have emerged as transformative materials for next-generation sensing due to their exceptional conductivity, tunable surface chemistry, and versatile nanostructuring capabilities. To advance MXene-based sensing technologies and to facilitate their large-scale implementation at the microsystem or Chip level, this review delves into the latest advancements in MXene-based sensors, emphasizing synthesis strategies that enhance performance—such as HF-free etching and delamination techniques—and their direct impact on sensitivity, selectivity, and stability. Subsequently, MXene-based sensors are categorized into films, hydrogels, aerogels, quantum dots, and fibers from a materials science perspective, highlighting their unique advantages in wearable healthcare monitoring, environmental sensing, and smart industrial systems. Looking ahead, the primary challenges and future prospects for MXene sensors, including artificial intelligence-driven multifunctional platforms and scalable roll-to-roll fabrication, are provided, along with an assessment of their potential to accelerate commercialization in the near future.