MXenes materials could be used in wearable pressure sensors

From fitness trackers to healthcare devices, wearable electronics are experiencing a boom in attention from people and markets. This has led to scientific interest in creating materials that are flexible enough to conform to human skin and have the ability to sense changes in the wearer’s pressure readings and body motions.

Liu et al reviewed the use of MXenes, a class of 2D, layered materials made of carbides and carbonitrides. They found MXenes have the mechanical flexibility and tensile strength to make them excellent for use in wearable pressure sensors.

“We mainly engaged in the research of nanomaterials and devices, including flexible wearable electronic skin and other fields, using the excellent performance of nanomaterials to create a green, pollution-free flexible sensor that can fit human skin,” said author Nishuang Liu.

MXenes are electrically conductive and uniquely flexible due to their multi-layer accordion shape, which is what makes them attractive as a pressure sensor.

“MXene possesses mechanical flexibility, good conductivity, excellent hydrophilic property, large specific surface areas, and unique surface chemistry,” Liu said.

Future work will be needed to further investigate the challenges in optimizing MXenes for use. Specifically, controlling the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of these materials is the researchers’ greatest challenge, which they plan to address by studying the composition and surface termination.

Liu said the team plans to explore the stability of the MXene and multi-functional integration of MXene-based wearable electronics.

Source: “Research progress of MXenes-based wearable pressure sensors,” by Dandan Lei, Nishuang Liu, Tuoyi Su, Luoxin Wang, Jun Su, Zhi Zhang, and Yihua Gao, APL Materials (2020). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0026984 .