journal article·2026-02

MXene‐Based Flexible Sensors: From Innovative Synthesis to Multifunctional Applications and Future Perspectives

Siqian Lv, Qing Wu, Yufeng Song, Qinghao Song, Liyi Li

Advanced Materials Technologies· Volume 11· Issue 3
Publisher page

Abstract

Abstract Flexible sensors are distinguished from rigid electronic devices by their lightweight characteristics and excellent deformation repeatability. Nonetheless, the suboptimal performance of flexible sensors, such as sensitivity, sensing range, and response time, necessitates the development of advanced optimization strategies, including material composition design, microstructure engineering, and device architecture innovation. The remarkable mechanical properties and high electrical conductivity of MXenes position them as promising materials for flexible sensors. This review systematically summarizes the progress in innovative synthesis methods of MXenes. The tunable conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and multi‐functionality of MXenes are discussed. Subsequently, flexible strain and pressure sensors (categorized as piezoresistive, piezoelectric, capacitive, and triboelectric), along with gas and humidity sensors, are systematically analyzed. Finally, key challenges pertaining to biocompatibility and environmental stability are highlighted. Collectively, this review delivers a comprehensive and up‐to‐date perspective on MXene‐based flexible sensors, establishing a robust foundation for future explorations and technological innovations in the field.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: MXene and MAX Phase Materials · Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials · Advanced Memory and Neural Computing

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Laser Spectroscopy Technology and Application Harbin University of Science and Technology Harbin 150080 China

College of Electronics and Information Engineering Shenzhen University Shenzhen 518060 China

State Key Laboratory of Space Environment Interaction with Matters Space Environment Simulation Research Infrastructure Harbin Institute of Technology Harbin 150080 China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China

References (100+)

Show source-provided references
1. 10.1002/adfm.20210526410.1002/adfm.202105264 ↗
2. 10.1016/j.cej.2023.14209910.1016/j.cej.2023.142099 ↗
3. 10.1002/adfm.20190450710.1002/adfm.201904507 ↗
4. 10.1007/s40820-023-01073-x10.1007/s40820-023-01073-x ↗
5. 10.1039/D0TA06965E10.1039/D0TA06965E ↗
6. 10.1002/adma.20110230610.1002/adma.201102306 ↗
7. 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c0024110.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00241 ↗
8. 10.1039/D4TB01904K10.1039/D4TB01904K ↗
9. 10.1002/adfm.20170289110.1002/adfm.201702891 ↗
10. 10.1002/admt.20230117510.1002/admt.202301175 ↗
11. 10.1002/adma.20220737410.1002/adma.202207374 ↗
12. 10.1016/j.flatc.2018.03.00110.1016/j.flatc.2018.03.001 ↗
13. 10.1016/j.mtchem.2025.10277310.1016/j.mtchem.2025.102773 ↗
14. 10.1002/advs.20220635510.1002/advs.202206355 ↗
15. 10.1002/smll.20240200310.1002/smll.202402003 ↗
16. 10.1021/acsnano.2c0993310.1021/acsnano.2c09933 ↗
17. 10.1021/acsami.2c2215810.1021/acsami.2c22158 ↗
18. Li X. · Adv. Mater. Technol. · 2025
19. 10.1016/j.nanoen.2021.10652810.1016/j.nanoen.2021.106528 ↗
20. 10.1007/s40820-025-01839-510.1007/s40820-025-01839-5 ↗
21. 10.1088/1361-6501/ada99f10.1088/1361-6501/ada99f ↗
22. 10.1038/s41467-017-01136-910.1038/s41467-017-01136-9 ↗
23. 10.1016/j.cej.2025.16377910.1016/j.cej.2025.163779 ↗
24. 10.1021/acsanm.5c0014610.1021/acsanm.5c00146 ↗
25. 10.1007/s00289-024-05234-910.1007/s00289-024-05234-9 ↗
26. 10.1002/adma.20231276110.1002/adma.202312761 ↗
27. Choi S. B. · Nano Energy · 2025 · 14010.1016/j.nanoen.2025.111000 ↗
28. 10.1021/acssensors.1c0048410.1021/acssensors.1c00484 ↗
29. 10.1016/j.coco.2025.10242610.1016/j.coco.2025.102426 ↗
30. 10.1016/j.nanoen.2012.01.00410.1016/j.nanoen.2012.01.004 ↗
31. 10.1021/acsami.5c0068210.1021/acsami.5c00682 ↗
32. 10.1021/acsami.5b0373710.1021/acsami.5b03737 ↗
33. 10.1021/acsami.7b1105510.1021/acsami.7b11055 ↗
34. 10.1016/j.snb.2020.12882810.1016/j.snb.2020.128828 ↗
35. 10.1002/adfm.20180151110.1002/adfm.201801511 ↗
36. 10.1021/acsnano.7b0526410.1021/acsnano.7b05264 ↗
37. 10.1002/adma.20200797310.1002/adma.202007973 ↗
38. 10.1002/advs.20220550910.1002/advs.202205509 ↗
39. 10.1557/mrc.2012.2510.1557/mrc.2012.25 ↗
40. 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b0034810.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00348 ↗
41. 10.1557/s43577-023-00491-x10.1557/s43577-023-00491-x ↗
42. 10.1038/nature1397010.1038/nature13970 ↗
43. 10.1038/nmat437410.1038/nmat4374 ↗
44. 10.1039/C6NR02253G10.1039/C6NR02253G ↗
45. 10.1002/anie.20180088710.1002/anie.201800887 ↗
46. 10.1002/anie.20180966210.1002/anie.201809662 ↗
47. 10.1021/jacs.9b0057410.1021/jacs.9b00574 ↗
48. 10.1080/10420150.2020.171814210.1080/10420150.2020.1718142 ↗
49. 10.1002/anie.20201562710.1002/anie.202015627 ↗
50. 10.1002/adma.20210101510.1002/adma.202101015 ↗
51. 10.1002/cey2.60910.1002/cey2.609 ↗
52. 10.1002/celc.20220089110.1002/celc.202200891 ↗
53. 10.1002/adma.20230520010.1002/adma.202305200 ↗
54. 10.1002/adma.20241073610.1002/adma.202410736 ↗
55. 10.1039/D4TA03457K10.1039/D4TA03457K ↗
56. 10.1016/j.mattod.2025.03.00110.1016/j.mattod.2025.03.001 ↗
57. 10.1002/adfm.20250486410.1002/adfm.202504864 ↗
58. 10.1016/j.snb.2023.13518910.1016/j.snb.2023.135189 ↗
59. 10.1016/j.mtphys.2025.10167810.1016/j.mtphys.2025.101678 ↗
60. 10.1039/D3RA03190J10.1039/D3RA03190J ↗
61. Hakim M. L. · Sci. Rep. · 2025 · 15 · 374110.1038/s41598-025-88372-y ↗
62. 10.1016/j.cej.2025.15936910.1016/j.cej.2025.159369 ↗
63. Yu T. · Mater. Lett. · 2024 · 37710.1016/j.matlet.2024.137460 ↗
64. 10.1021/acsami.4c0978610.1021/acsami.4c09786 ↗
65. 10.1126/sciadv.aat049110.1126/sciadv.aat0491 ↗
66. 10.1186/s40580-021-00259-610.1186/s40580-021-00259-6 ↗
67. 10.1016/j.cej.2024.15409710.1016/j.cej.2024.154097 ↗
68. 10.1002/ange.20190613810.1002/ange.201906138 ↗
69. 10.1016/j.snb.2025.13753310.1016/j.snb.2025.137533 ↗
70. Kumar S. S. · Sci. Adv. · 2025 · 1110.1126/sciadv.adu6682 ↗
71. 10.1002/smtd.20220157910.1002/smtd.202201579 ↗
72. 10.1021/acsami.5c0880710.1021/acsami.5c08807 ↗
73. 10.1002/admt.20220202910.1002/admt.202202029 ↗
74. Amani A. M. · Adv. Compos. Hybrid Mater. · 2025 · 8 · 6310.1007/s42114-024-01118-8 ↗
75. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.13908610.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.139086 ↗
76. 10.1039/D2LC01008A10.1039/D2LC01008A ↗
77. 10.1016/j.compscitech.2023.11024010.1016/j.compscitech.2023.110240 ↗
78. 10.3390/s2413409210.3390/s24134092 ↗
79. 10.1088/2631-7990/ad6aad10.1088/2631-7990/ad6aad ↗
80. 10.1002/app.5646810.1002/app.56468 ↗
81. 10.1002/slct.20240207610.1002/slct.202402076 ↗
82. 10.1002/smll.20180247910.1002/smll.201802479 ↗
83. 10.1016/j.cej.2024.14965910.1016/j.cej.2024.149659 ↗
84. 10.1016/j.jiec.2025.01.02710.1016/j.jiec.2025.01.027 ↗
85. 10.1016/j.apsusc.2024.16162610.1016/j.apsusc.2024.161626 ↗
86. 10.1021/acsapm.4c0133910.1021/acsapm.4c01339 ↗
87. 10.1021/acsami.2c1813510.1021/acsami.2c18135 ↗
88. 10.1016/j.jmst.2024.07.00310.1016/j.jmst.2024.07.003 ↗
89. 10.1002/asia.20240005510.1002/asia.202400055 ↗
90. 10.1002/app.5426010.1002/app.54260 ↗
91. 10.3390/mi1511130110.3390/mi15111301 ↗
92. 10.1016/j.cej.2024.15915710.1016/j.cej.2024.159157 ↗
93. 10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.11857310.1016/j.indcrop.2024.118573 ↗
94. 10.3390/mi1408156310.3390/mi14081563 ↗
95. 10.1021/acsapm.4c0122510.1021/acsapm.4c01225 ↗
96. 10.1002/smll.20240162210.1002/smll.202401622 ↗
97. 10.1002/smll.20250464310.1002/smll.202504643 ↗
98. 10.1021/acsnano.2c0820910.1021/acsnano.2c08209 ↗
99. 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.05.03910.1016/j.jcis.2024.05.039 ↗
100. 10.1016/j.apmt.2022.10168310.1016/j.apmt.2022.101683 ↗