The emergence of textile-based wearable sensors as light-weight portable devices to monitor desired parameters, has recently gained much interest and has led to the development of flexible electronics on non-rigid substrates. The flexible biosensors may result in improved sports performance, to monitor the desired bodies for injuries, improved clinical diagnostics and monitor biological molecules and ions in biological fluids such as saliva, sweat. In addition, they could help users with different types of disorders such as blindness. In this context, new composite and nanomaterials have been found to be promising candidates to obtain improved performance of the textile based wearable devices and to optimize the structures for intimate contact with the skin for better functionality. This review aims to provide the most recent cutting-edge information on emergence, fabrication, materials, and applications of chemical and physical flexible and stretchable textile-based (bio)sensors. Besides this, we discusss the recent key innovations and applications of textile-based sensors in healthcare.

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) offer fascinating opportunities for fundamental nanoscale science and various technological applications. They are a promising platform for next generation optoelectronics and energy harvesting devices due to their exceptional characteristics at the nanoscale, such as tunable bandgap and strong light-matter interactions. The performance of TMD-based devices is mainly governed by the structure, composition, size, defects, and the state of their interfaces. Many properties of TMDs are influenced by the method of synthesis so numerous studies have focused on processing high-quality TMDs with controlled physicochemical properties. Plasma-based methods are cost-effective, well controllable, and scalable techniques that have recently attracted researchers' interest in the synthesis and modification of 2D TMDs. TMDs' reactivity toward plasma offers numerous opportunities to modify the surface of TMDs, including functionalization, defect engineering, doping, oxidation, phase engineering, etching, healing, morphological changes, and altering the surface energy. Here we comprehensively review all roles of plasma in the realm of TMDs. The fundamental science behind plasma processing and modification of TMDs and their applications in different fields are presented and discussed. Future perspectives and challenges are highlighted to demonstrate the prominence of TMDs and the importance of surface engineering in next-generation optoelectronic applications.

By developing the applications of metal matrix composites (MMCs), employing more efficient fabrication methods seems necessary. Within the two last decades, microwave (MW) sintering was introduced as a competitive nomination for sintering metal composites. This method leads to homogenous rapid heating which warms up the compacted powders volumetrically. Therefore, time and energy will be saved in a great deal compared with conventional methods; additionally, superior properties will be obtained. In this paper the principals of MW heating have been discussed initially and compared with the conventional sintering method; thereafter, the physical and mechanical properties of MW sintered MMCs reinforced by ceramic particles have been studied in three main categories of lightweight, superhard, and other metal matrices. According to the results, almost in all cases, MW sintered products revealed better mechanical properties than conventional, hot pressed, and vacuum sintered samples. In addition, several novel research studies showed MW processing of MMCs could be carried out to construct biomedical and electronic parts. Furthermore, it seems the future of composite materials industries will be influenced by MW heating remarkably.

Two-dimensional Boron Carbon Nitride (BCN) is a complex ternary system that has recently attracted great attention due to its ability to be tuned over a range of chemical, optical and electrical properties. In the last decade, BCN structures have been extensively researched for many energy-related applications, from supercapacitors and lithium ion batteries to electrocatalysts and sensors. However, the stoichiometry dependent properties of BCN as well as the difficult-to-control domain distribution of boron, carbon, and nitrogen atoms throughout the planes result in challenges for the fabrication of devices with reproducible performance. This review starts by discussing the fundamental properties of BCN as compared to its parent compounds (hexagonal boron nitride and graphene). Then the fabrication methods are comprehensively reviewed, analyzing each method’s advantages and shortcomings. This is followed by an explanation of BCN characteristics while particular attention is given to the surface chemistry and engineering of nanosheets. Applications of two dimensional BCN will also be reviewed to illustrate its significance over the last decade. Lastly, future trends and prospects of BCN structures will be reviewed, indicating on-going areas of research and the possible integration of BCN in semiconductor and energy-related applications.

Electrochemical sensing performance of two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride (2D h-BN) has traditionally been suppressed by their intrinsic electrical insulation and deficient electron transportation mechanism. However, the excellent electrocatalytic activity, high specific surface area, N- and B-active edges, structural defects, adjustable band gap through interaction with other nanomaterials, and chemical functionalization, makes 2D h-BN ideal for many sensing applications. Therefore, finding a pathway to modulate the electronic properties of 2D h-BN while the intrinsic characteristics are well preserved, will evolve a new generation of highly sensitive and selective electrochemical (bio)sensors. That is why extensive research has recently focused on the challenge to functionalize 2D h-BN by controlling the surface chemical reactions with external species, particularly metal nanoparticles. This review summarizes the most recent progress in the application of 2D h-BN nanosheets in electrochemical (bio)sensing. We will explore the fabrication techniques of 2D h-BN for electrochemical applications followed by thorough discussion on their advantages, shortcomings, and promising possibilities as (bio)sensing platforms in near future.