The titanium carbide MXenes currently attract an extreme amount of interest from the material science community due to their promising functional properties arising from the two-dimensionality of these layered structures. In particular, the interaction between MXene and gaseous molecules, even at the physisorption level, yields a substantial shift in electrical parameters, which makes it possible to design gas sensors working at RT as a prerequisite to low-powered detection units. Herein, we consider to review such sensors, primarily based on Ti3C2Tx and Ti2CTx crystals as the most studied ones to date, delivering a chemiresistive type of signal. We analyze the ways reported in the literature to modify these 2D nanomaterials for (i) detecting various analyte gases, (ii) improving stability and sensitivity, (iii) reducing response/recovery times, and (iv) advancing a sensitivity to atmospheric humidity. The most powerful approach based on designing hetero-layers of MXenes with other crystals is discussed with regard to employing semiconductor metal oxides and chalcogenides, noble metal nanoparticles, carbon materials (graphene and nanotubes), and polymeric components. The current concepts on the detection mechanisms of MXenes and their hetero-composites are considered, and the background reasons for improving gas-sensing functionality in the hetero-composite when compared with pristine MXenes are classified. We formulate state-of-the-art advances and challenges in the field while proposing some possible solutions, in particular via employing a multisensor array paradigm.
ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposites with different concentration and thickness of the Fe2O3 layer were obtained by two-stage aerosol vapor deposition (AACVD). It was shown that the ZnO particles have a wurtzite structure with an average size of 51–66 nm, and the iron oxide particles on the ZnO surface have a hematite structure and an average size of 23–28 nm. According to EDX data, the iron content in the films was found to be 1.3–5.8 at.%. The optical properties of the obtained films were studied, and the optical band gap was found to be 3.16–3.26 eV. Gas-sensitive properties at 150–300 °C were studied using a wide group of analyte gases: CO, NH3, H2, CH4, C6H6, ethanol, acetone, and NO2. A high response to 100 ppm acetone and ethanol at 225–300 °C and a high and selective response to 300–2000 ppb NO2 at 175 °C were established. The effect of humidity on the magnitude and shape of the signal obtained upon NO2 detection was studied.
The development of scientific and technological foundations for the creation of high-performance energy storage devices is becoming increasingly important due to the rapid development of microelectronics, including flexible and wearable microelectronics. Supercapacitors are indispensable devices for the power supply of systems requiring high power, high charging-discharging rates, cyclic stability, and long service life and a wide range of operating temperatures (from −40 to 70 °C). The use of printing technologies gives an opportunity to move the production of such devices to a new level due to the possibility of the automated formation of micro-supercapacitors (including flexible, stretchable, wearable) with the required type of geometric implementation, to reduce time and labour costs for their creation, and to expand the prospects of their commercialization and widespread use. Within the framework of this review, we have focused on the consideration of the key commonly used supercapacitor electrode materials and highlighted examples of their successful printing in the process of assembling miniature energy storage devices.