MXenes, a groundbreaking class of two-dimensional materials, have attracted significant interest in recent years due to their unique structure and versatile properties. These materials, derived from the selective etching of MAX phase compounds like titanium carbide (Ti3C2), possess remarkable electrical conductivity, high surface area, and an abundance of surface functional groups (e.g., –O, –OH, –F). Such characteristics make MXenes hydrophilic, suitable for solution processing, and highly adaptable to surface modifications. Given these attributes, MXenes have become a leading candidate for gas sensing applications, offering a powerful platform for the next generation of highly sensitive, selective, and stable gas sensors.
Traditional gas sensors often face limitations in terms of sensitivity, flexibility, and processing compatibility. MXenes, however, bring several key advantages in terms of the below aspects:
• High electrical conductivity: MXenes offer metallic conductivity, which enhances sensor responsiveness and precision.
• Tunable surface chemistry: Their surface groups provide numerous active sites for gas molecule interaction, allowing for improved sensitivity and selectivity.
• Flexibility & solution processability: Unlike rigid traditional materials, MXenes can be processed into flexible and stretchable forms, suitable for wearable and integrated sensor platforms.
• Functionalization potential: MXenes are easily functionalized and can form composites with other nanomaterials, further boosting their sensing capabilities.
These properties make MXenes a superior choice for developing advanced gas sensors that overcome the limitations of conventional materials. Moreover, they offer a promising avenue for applications in environmental monitoring, healthcare, and industrial safety.
Main tasks:
• Develop and characterize MXene-based gas sensors, with a focus on their sensitivity, selectivity, and stability.
• Investigate the surface functionalization of MXenes and their nanocomposites for enhanced gas sensing performance.
• Explore the solution processing of MXenes to create flexible and stretchable gas sensor platforms.
• Test the developed sensors under various conditions to evaluate their real-world applicability.
Student background:
• Background in materials science, nanotechnology, or electrical engineering.
• Interest in 2D materials, sensor technologies, and gas sensing applications.
• Experience with nanomaterial characterization or surface chemistry is a plus but not mandatory.
Benefits to the student:
• Hands-on experience with cutting-edge MXene materials and sensor development.
• Gain deep insights into the fabrication and characterization of next-generation gas sensors.
• Opportunity to work with interdisciplinary teams and apply your research to real-world applications in environmental protection, health monitoring, and industrial safety.
• Contribute to innovative research with potential for publication and future development.
Reference:
[1]. Li, Yufen, et al. "Toward smart sensing by MXene." Small 19.14 (2023): 2206126.
[2]. Li, Donghang, Huarun Liang, and Yingying Zhang. "MXene-based gas sensors: State of the art and prospects." Carbon (2024): 119205.
[3]. Bhardwaj, Radha, and Arnab Hazra. "MXene-based gas sensors." Journal of Materials Chemistry C 9.44 (2021): 15735-15754.
MXenes, a groundbreaking class of two-dimensional materials, have attracted significant interest in recent years due to their unique structure and versatile properties. These materials, derived from the selective etching of MAX phase compounds like titanium carbide (Ti3C2), possess remarkable electrical conductivity, high surface area, and an abundance of surface functional groups (e.g., –O, –OH, –F). Such characteristics make MXenes hydrophilic, suitable for solution processing, and highly adaptable to surface modifications. Given these attributes, MXenes have become a leading candidate for gas sensing applications, offering a powerful platform for the next generation of highly sensitive, selective, and stable gas sensors.
Traditional gas sensors often face limitations in terms of sensitivity, flexibility, and processing compatibility. MXenes, however, bring several key advantages in terms of the below aspects:
• High electrical conductivity: MXenes offer metallic conductivity, which enhances sensor responsiveness and precision.
• Tunable surface chemistry: Their surface groups provide numerous active sites for gas molecule interaction, allowing for improved sensitivity and selectivity.
• Flexibility & solution processability: Unlike rigid traditional materials, MXenes can be processed into flexible and stretchable forms, suitable for wearable and integrated sensor platforms.
• Functionalization potential: MXenes are easily functionalized and can form composites with other nanomaterials, further boosting their sensing capabilities.
These properties make MXenes a superior choice for developing advanced gas sensors that overcome the limitations of conventional materials. Moreover, they offer a promising avenue for applications in environmental monitoring, healthcare, and industrial safety.
Main tasks:
• Develop and characterize MXene-based gas sensors, with a focus on their sensitivity, selectivity, and stability.
• Investigate the surface functionalization of MXenes and their nanocomposites for enhanced gas sensing performance.
• Explore the solution processing of MXenes to create flexible and stretchable gas sensor platforms.
• Test the developed sensors under various conditions to evaluate their real-world applicability.
Student background:
• Background in materials science, nanotechnology, or electrical engineering.
• Interest in 2D materials, sensor technologies, and gas sensing applications.
• Experience with nanomaterial characterization or surface chemistry is a plus but not mandatory.
Benefits to the student:
• Hands-on experience with cutting-edge MXene materials and sensor development.
• Gain deep insights into the fabrication and characterization of next-generation gas sensors.
• Opportunity to work with interdisciplinary teams and apply your research to real-world applications in environmental protection, health monitoring, and industrial safety.
• Contribute to innovative research with potential for publication and future development.
Reference:
[1]. Li, Yufen, et al. "Toward smart sensing by MXene." Small 19.14 (2023): 2206126.
[2]. Li, Donghang, Huarun Liang, and Yingying Zhang. "MXene-based gas sensors: State of the art and prospects." Carbon (2024): 119205.
[3]. Bhardwaj, Radha, and Arnab Hazra. "MXene-based gas sensors." Journal of Materials Chemistry C 9.44 (2021): 15735-15754.