Unveiling the future: Breakthroughs and innovations in MXene-based electrochemical sensors

Electrochemical sensors have been increasingly relevant in current analytical procedures due to their capacity to detect a large range of chemicals efficiently and precisely. The development of innovative electrochemical sensors with higher sensitivity, ultra-low detection limits, and excellent selectivity strongly depends on particular material selection, which is an essential parameter of sensor performance. In recent years, MXenes have received much interest as potential sensor materials. This is due to their extraordinary qualities, which include hydrophilicity, high electrical conductivity, low band gap, a wide range of terminal functional groups, a huge surface area, and unique thermal and mechanical properties. These features make MXenes ideal for applications requiring the immobilization of target molecules in sensing technologies. A thorough review of the current literature reveals that MXene-based electrochemical sensors are increasingly being used to detect a wide range of analytes, including cancer biomarkers, exosomes, viral and bacterial agents, dopamine, glucocorticoid and cortisol hormones, glucose, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and heavy metals, among others. These sensors have shown extraordinary performance in detecting analytes ranging from biological markers to environmental toxins, with high sensitivity, large linear ranges, and low detection limits. This article comprehensively analyzes the most recent advances in MXene-modified materials for electrochemical sensing. It aims to give researchers useful insights into the development and creation of MXene-based electrochemical sensors, with the goal of encouraging future innovation and success in this rapidly growing field.