MXene sensors based on optical and electrical sensing signals: from biological, chemical, and physical sensing to emerging intelligent and bionic devices

Sensing devices are key nodes for information detection, processing, and conversion and are widely applied in different fields such as industrial production, environmental monitoring, and defense. However, increasing demand of these devices has complicated the application scenarios and diversified the detection targets thereby promoting the continuous development of sensing materials and detection methods. In recent years, Tin+1CnTx (n = 1, 2, 3) MXenes with outstanding optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties have been developed as ideal candidates of sensing materials to apply in physical, chemical, and biological sensing fields. In this review, depending on optical and electrical sensing signals, we systematically summarize the application of Tin+1CnTx in nine categories of sensors such as strain, gas, and fluorescence sensors. The excellent sensing properties of Tin+1CnTx allow its further development in emerging intelligent and bionic devices, including smart flexible devices, bionic E-skin, neural network coding and learning, bionic soft robot, as well as intelligent artificial eardrum, which are all discussed briefly in this review. Finally, we present a positive outlook on the potential future challenges and perspectives of MXene-based sensors. MXenes have shown a vigorous development momentum in sensing applications and can drive the development of an increasing number of new technologies.