Application of Mxenes and their composites in plasmon-enhanced optical sensors: Review paper

Mxenes (two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides) have many outstanding properties such as large specific surface area, and good electrical conductivity. Some forms of Mxenes have high optical transparency and localized surface plasmon resonance effects. Mxenes materials have been studied and discussed extensively with many applications in energy storage devices. However, various reports indicate that this material has recently emerged as a potential candidate in sensing technology, most notably in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors. Optical properties and Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) effects have demonstrated the high applicability of these advanced sensing materials. An LSPR sensor has more excellent performance due to the existence of surface functional groups and the large specific surface area of Mxenes. In this review, we present the recent advances of 2D MXenes and their composites in SPR/LSPR-based sensing regarding fabrication, properties, and potential applications in optical sensing systems for the future development of this material.