Abstract
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•Environmental application of MXene-based miniaturized sensors was presented.•Synthesize procedures of MXene and MXene nanocomposites were reviewed.•Developments in MXene-based nanocomposite electrochemical sensors were highlighted.•Sensing and detection of environmental pollution.•Current trends and the future outlook in pollutants sensing were emphasized.
The pervasive pollution of diverse environmental matrices by toxic compounds poses a critical global public health concern, necessitating the development of sophisticated monitoring devices. Electrochemical miniaturized sensors have emerged as pivotal tools for regular pollutant monitoring due to their exceptional sensitivity and selectivity. Recent strides in sensor fabrication, particularly with the integration of novel materials such as MXene, have garnered significant attention. MXene, with its general formula Mn+1XnTx, represents a class of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides, carbonitrides, and nitrides, showcasing distinctive chemical and physical properties as nanomaterials. Analytical chemists have increasingly embraced MXenes, exploiting their unique structural, mechanical, thermal, optical, and electrical characteristics, particularly in the realm of electrochemical sensors. This review assesses the recent applications of MXene-based nanocomposite electrochemical sensors for pollutant assessment, focusing on publications from the past five years. The review delves into the influence of nanomaterials on sensor fabrication and the resultant impact on sensitivity in electrochemical measurements. Moreover, it discusses key challenges and outlines future research directions.