2D Materials for Skin-Mountable Electronic Devices

Preparation of sp2 carbon-bonded π-conjugated COF aerogels by ultrasound-assisted mild solvothermal reaction for multi-functional applications

Molding COFs into aerogels from monomers can establish interpenetrating spatial network structures on the centimeter scale that increase the accessibility of dominant pore channels and the convenience of real application, which radically gets rid of the difficult reprocessing problems of insoluble and non-fusible powder COFs. However, the construction of bulk COF structures and achieving crystallinity are often incompatible, especially with sp2 carbon-based COFs, whose powder synthesis has been quite demanding. Herein, for the first time, we report an efficient method to prepare sp2 carbon-linked π-conjugated DFB-TMTA-COF (DT-COF) aerogels by an ultrasound-assisted mild solvothermal technique and freeze-drying. Particularly, unlike the typical synthesis methods of vacuum deoxygenation, high temperature and long reaction time, crystalline DT-COF aerogels can be obtained by reacting at 90 °C for 48 h without vacuum sealing. The fluffy, hierarchical porous flower-shaped microsphere clustering of DT-COF aerogels contributes to excellent mechanical properties and better host-guest interactions, which are favorable to utilize the benefits of the highly conjugated structure of channels. As a proof of concept, DT-COF aerogels have been used in absorption, batteries, and sensors, demonstrating enhanced functionality and effectiveness.

First-principles investigations of the controllable electronic properties and contact types of type II MoTe2/MoS2 van der Waals heterostructures

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures are considered as promising candidates for realizing multifunctional applications, including photodetectors, field effect transistors and solar cells. In this work, we performed first-principles calculations to design a 2D vdW MoTe2/MoS2 heterostructure and investigate its electronic properties, contact types and the impact of an electric field and in-plane biaxial strain. We find that the MoTe2/MoS2 heterostructure is predicted to be structurally, thermally and mechanically stable. It is obvious that the weak vdW interactions are mainly dominated at the interface of the MoTe2/MoS2 heterostructure and thus it can be synthesized in recent experiments by the transfer method or chemical vapor deposition. The construction of the vdW MoTe2/MoS2 heterostructure forms a staggered type II band alignment, effectively separating the electrons and holes at the interface and thereby extending the carrier lifetime. Interestingly, the electronic properties and contact types of the type II vdW MoTe2/MoS2 heterostructure can be tailored under the application of external conditions, including an electric field and in-plane biaxial strain. The semiconductor-semimetal-metal transition and type II-type I conversion can be achieved in the vdW MoTe2/MoS2 heterostructure. Our findings underscore the potential of the vdW MoTe2/MoS2 heterostructure for the design and fabrication of multifunctional applications, including electronics and optoelectronics.

Electric Eel Biomimetics for Energy Storage and Conversion

The electric eel is known as the most powerful creature to generate electricity with a discharge voltage up to 860 V and peak current up to 1 A. These surprising properties are the results of billions of years of evolution on the electrical biological structure and bulk, and now have triggered great research interest in electric eel biomimetics for designing innovated configurations and components of energy storage and conversion devices. In this review, first, the bioelectrical behavior of electric eels is surveyed, followed by the physiological structure to reveal the discharge characteristics and principles of electric organs and electrocytes. Additionally, underlying electrochemical mechanisms and models for calculating the potential and current of electrocytes are presented. Central to this review is the recent progress of electric-eel-inspired innovations and applications for energy storage and conversion, particularly including novel power sources, triboelectric nanogenerators, and nanochannel ion-selective membranes for salinity gradient energy harvesting. Finally, insights on the challenges at the moment and the perspectives on the future research prospects are critically compiled. It is suggested that energy-related electric eel biomimetics will greatly boost the development of next-generation high performance, green, and functional electronics.

Current On-Skin Flexible Sensors, Materials, Manufacturing Approaches, and Study Trends for Health Monitoring: A Review

Due to an ever-increasing amount of the population focusing more on their personal health, thanks to rising living standards, there is a pressing need to improve personal healthcare devices. These devices presently require laborious, time-consuming, and convoluted procedures that heavily rely on cumbersome equipment, causing discomfort and pain for the patients during invasive methods such as sample-gathering, blood sampling, and other traditional benchtop techniques. The solution lies in the development of new flexible sensors with temperature, humidity, strain, pressure, and sweat detection and monitoring capabilities, mimicking some of the sensory capabilities of the skin. In this review, a comprehensive presentation of the themes regarding flexible sensors, chosen materials, manufacturing processes, and trends was made. It was concluded that carbon-based composite materials, along with graphene and its derivates, have garnered significant interest due to their electromechanical stability, extraordinary electrical conductivity, high specific surface area, variety, and relatively low cost.

Recent Advances in Tactile Sensory Systems: Mechanisms, Fabrication, and Applications

Flexible electronics is a cutting-edge field that has paved the way for artificial tactile systems that mimic biological functions of sensing mechanical stimuli. These systems have an immense potential to enhance human-machine interactions (HMIs). However, tactile sensing still faces formidable challenges in delivering precise and nuanced feedback, such as achieving a high sensitivity to emulate human touch, coping with environmental variability, and devising algorithms that can effectively interpret tactile data for meaningful interactions in diverse contexts. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of tactile sensory systems, such as piezoresistive, capacitive, piezoelectric, and triboelectric tactile sensors. We also review the state-of-the-art fabrication techniques for artificial tactile sensors. Next, we focus on the potential applications of HMIs, such as intelligent robotics, wearable devices, prosthetics, and medical healthcare. Finally, we conclude with the challenges and future development trends of tactile sensors.

Environmental and Health Impacts of Graphene and Other Two-Dimensional Materials: A Graphene Flagship Perspective

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted tremendous interest ever since the isolation of atomically thin sheets of graphene in 2004 due to the specific and versatile properties of these materials. However, the increasing production and use of 2D materials necessitate a thorough evaluation of the potential impact on human health and the environment. Furthermore, harmonized test protocols are needed with which to assess the safety of 2D materials. The Graphene Flagship project (2013-2023), funded by the European Commission, addressed the identification of the possible hazard of graphene-based materials as well as emerging 2D materials including transition metal dichalcogenides, hexagonal boron nitride, and others. Additionally, so-called green chemistry approaches were explored to achieve the goal of a safe and sustainable production and use of this fascinating family of nanomaterials. The present review provides a compact survey of the findings and the lessons learned in the Graphene Flagship.

Fibrous Conductive Metallogels with Hybrid Electron/Ion Networks for Boosted Extreme Sensitivity and High Linearity Strain Sensor

Fibrous strain sensing materials with both high sensitivity and high linearity are of significant importance for wearable sensors, yet they still face great challenges. Herein, a photo-spun reaction encapsulation strategy is proposed for the continuous fabrication of fibrous strain sensor materials (AMGF) with a core-sheath structure. Metallogels (MOGs) formed by bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers and Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs), and thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are employed as the core and sheath, respectively. The in situ ultraviolet light reduction of Ag+ ensured AgNPs to maintain the interconnections between the BC nanofibers and form electron conductive networks (0.31 S m-1 ). Under applied strain, the BC nanofibers experience separation, bringing AMGF a high sensitivity (gauge factor 4.36). The concentration of free ions in the MOGs uniformly varies with applied deformation, endowing AMGF with high linearity and a goodness-of-fit of 0.98. The sheath TPE provided AMGF sensor with stable working life (>10 000 s). Furthermore, the AMGF sensors are demonstrated to monitor complex deformations of the dummy joints in real-time as a wearable sensor. Therefore, the fibrous hybrid conductive network fibers fabricated via the photo-spun reaction encapsulation strategy provide a new route for addressing the challenge of achieving both high sensitivity and high linearity.

Flexible Dry Electrode Based on a Wrinkled Surface That Uses Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Composites for Recording Electroencephalograms

Electroencephalography (EEG) captures minute electrical signals emanating from the brain. These signals are vulnerable to interference from external noise and dynamic artifacts; hence, accurately recording such signals is challenging. Although dry electrodes are convenient, their signals are of limited quality; consequently, wet electrodes are predominantly used in EEG. Therefore, developing dry electrodes for accurately and stably recording EEG signals is crucial. In this study, we developed flexible dry electrodes using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/carbon-nanotube (CNT) composites with isotropically wrinkled surfaces that effectively combine the advantages of wet and dry electrodes. Adjusting the PDMS crosslinker ratio led to good adhesion, resulting in a highly adhesive CNT/PDMS composite with a low Young's modulus that exhibited excellent electrical and mechanical properties owing to its ability to conformally contact skin. The isotropically wrinkled surface also effectively controls dynamic artifacts during EEG signal detection and ensures accurate signal analysis. The results of this study demonstrate that dry electrodes based on flexible CNT/PDMS composites and corrugated structures can outperform wet electrodes. The introduction of such electrodes is expected to enable the accurate analysis and monitoring of EEG signals in various scenarios, including clinical trials.

2D Materials in Flexible Electronics: Recent Advances and Future Prospectives

Flexible electronics have recently gained considerable attention due to their potential to provide new and innovative solutions to a wide range of challenges in various electronic fields. These electronics require specific material properties and performance because they need to be integrated into a variety of surfaces or folded and rolled for newly formatted electronics. Two-dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as promising candidates for flexible electronics due to their unique mechanical, electrical, and optical properties, as well as their compatibility with other materials, enabling the creation of various flexible electronic devices. This article provides a comprehensive review of the progress made in developing flexible electronic devices using 2D materials. In addition, it highlights the key aspects of materials, scalable material production, and device fabrication processes for flexible applications, along with important examples of demonstrations that achieved breakthroughs in various flexible and wearable electronic applications. Finally, we discuss the opportunities, current challenges, potential solutions, and future investigative directions about this field.

Achieving controllable multifunctionality through layer sliding

Dynamical variation of physical properties in a controllable fashion provides exciting possibilities to obtain multifunctional materials. In this work, layer-sliding is employed to modify the structural, interfacial electronic and optical properties of unintercalated and Mg-intercalated two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals heterostructure (vdW-HS) consisting of buckled silicene and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). The most stable stacking configuration of silicene over hBN is screened out and then intercalated with Mg at the interface. Dynamical-dependent changes in the properties of vdW-HS are performed by sliding silicene over hBN monolayer in the absence and presence of the intercalant. Layer-sliding is carried out in equal length intervals, and various parametric quantities related to the physical characteristics of the vdW-HS are repeatedly calculated and compared. Apart from various parametric quantities, stability of unintercalated and Mg-intercalated vdW-HS is also checked by means of relative total energies, binding energies and vdW gaps along the sliding pathway. Comparison of binding energies shows that the un-slided, half-slided, and fully-slided Mg-intercalated vdW-HS are 1.52, 1.44 and 1.42 eV more stable than the unintercalated vdW-HS. Opening of a small band gap of 12, 31 and 28 meV for un-slided, half-slided and fully-slided unintercalated vdW-HS, respectively, is worth mentioning. To study the interfacial electronic behavior, planar average charge density difference (Δρ) and charge transfer (ΔQ) are also calculated and varied via layer-sliding. Further, we calculated diverse optical spectra such as the complex dielectric function (DF), electron energy loss function [L(ω)], diagonal components of dielectric tensor [ε(iω)], refractive index [n(ω)], extinction coefficient [k(ω)], absorption coefficient [α(ω)], and reflectivity [R(ω)] for un-slided, half-slided and fully-slided unintercalated and Mg-intercalated vdW-HS. Interestingly, the polarization and energy losses have been reduced in the case of Mg-intercalated vdW-HS. The suggested layer-sliding method can be established as a general scheme for bringing multifunctionality into a layered material.

Recent Progress on Phase Engineering of Nanomaterials

As a key structural parameter, phase depicts the arrangement of atoms in materials. Normally, a nanomaterial exists in its thermodynamically stable crystal phase. With the development of nanotechnology, nanomaterials with unconventional crystal phases, which rarely exist in their bulk counterparts, or amorphous phase have been prepared using carefully controlled reaction conditions. Together these methods are beginning to enable phase engineering of nanomaterials (PEN), i.e., the synthesis of nanomaterials with unconventional phases and the transformation between different phases, to obtain desired properties and functions. This Review summarizes the research progress in the field of PEN. First, we present representative strategies for the direct synthesis of unconventional phases and modulation of phase transformation in diverse kinds of nanomaterials. We cover the synthesis of nanomaterials ranging from metal nanostructures such as Au, Ag, Cu, Pd, and Ru, and their alloys; metal oxides, borides, and carbides; to transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and 2D layered materials. We review synthesis and growth methods ranging from wet-chemical reduction and seed-mediated epitaxial growth to chemical vapor deposition (CVD), high pressure phase transformation, and electron and ion-beam irradiation. After that, we summarize the significant influence of phase on the various properties of unconventional-phase nanomaterials. We also discuss the potential applications of the developed unconventional-phase nanomaterials in different areas including catalysis, electrochemical energy storage (batteries and supercapacitors), solar cells, optoelectronics, and sensing. Finally, we discuss existing challenges and future research directions in PEN.

In situ molecular permeation of liquid cationic polymers into solid anionic polymer films enabling self-adaptive adhesion of hydrogel biosensors

Self-adaptive adhesion is essential for hydrogel sensors. However, the traditional protocol involves covering a pre-prepared hydrogel sensor on a tested surface. As a result, the sensor cannot achieve self-adaptive adhesion owing to an air-layer hindrance between the sensor and tested surface, which inevitably leads to the loss of critical biological signals. To address the issue of air-layer hindrance, this work proposes an in situ permeation method that enables the self-adaptive adhesion of hydrogel biosensors on various surfaces. After applying a liquid solution of poly(methacrylamido propyl trimethyl ammonium chloride-co-acrylamide) (poly(MPTAC-co-AM)) on the testing surface, a thin film of poly(acrylic aminoethane sulfonic acid-co-acrylamide) (poly(AASA-co-AM)) is applied, where the electrostatic interaction between -SO3- and -Me3N+ facilitates rapid permeation of the solution into the solid film, leading to the formation of a hydrogel layer in situ. The coating of liquid poly(MPTAC-co-AM) sweeps away the air layer and works as a natural glue, enabling a strong bonding interaction between the hydrogel layer and the tested surface. Such a hydrogel layer is very thin (microscale), and can retain its self-adaptive adhesion even with deformation of the tested surface. When it is applied on the surface of an active frog heart, the weak heartbeats can be transduced to electrical signals. Moreover, this self-adaptive adhesion can work on both soft and hard surfaces including biological tissues, metals, rubbers, ceramics, and glass. Therefore, this in situ permeation method enables the hydrogel layer to detect weak dynamic changes on various soft and hard surfaces, which might offer a new pathway for physiological signal monitoring.

Wearable sensors for telehealth based on emerging materials and nanoarchitectonics

Wearable sensors have made significant progress in sensing physiological and biochemical markers for telehealth. By monitoring vital signs like body temperature, arterial oxygen saturation, and breath rate, wearable sensors provide enormous potential for the early detection of diseases. In recent years, significant advancements have been achieved in the development of wearable sensors based on two-dimensional (2D) materials with flexibility, excellent mechanical stability, high sensitivity, and accuracy introducing a new approach to remote and real-time health monitoring. In this review, we outline 2D materials-based wearable sensors and biosensors for a remote health monitoring system. The review focused on five types of wearable sensors, which were classified according to their sensing mechanism, such as pressure, strain, electrochemical, optoelectronic, and temperature sensors. 2D material capabilities and their impact on the performance and operation of the wearable sensor are outlined. The fundamental sensing principles and mechanism of wearable sensors, as well as their applications are explored. This review concludes by discussing the remaining obstacles and future opportunities for this emerging telehealth field. We hope that this report will be useful to individuals who want to design new wearable sensors based on 2D materials and it will generate new ideas.

Construction of Bimetallic Heterojunction Based on Porous Engineering for High Performance Flexible Asymmetric Supercapacitors

It remains a great challenge to design and manufacture battery-type supercapacitors with satisfactory flexibility, appropriate mechanical property, and high energy density under high power density. Herein, a concept of porous engineering is proposed to simply prepare two-layered bimetallic heterojunction with porous structures. This concept is successfully applied in fabrication of flexible electrode based on CuO-Co(OH)₂ lamella on Cu-plated carbon cloth (named as CPCC@CuO@Co(OH)₂ ). The unique structure brings the electrode a high specific capacity of 3620 mF cm^-2 at 2 mA cm^-2 and appropriate mechanical properties with Young's modulus of 302.0 MPa. Density functional theory calculations show that porous heterojunction provides a higher intensity of electron state density near the Fermi level (E-E_f  = 0 eV), leading to a highly conductive CPCC@CuO@Co(OH)₂ electrode with both efficient charge transport and rapid ion diffusion. Notably, the supercapacitor assembled from CPCC@CuO@Co(OH)₂ //CC@AC shows high energy density of 127.7 W h kg^-1 at 750.0 W kg^-1 , remarkable cycling performance (95.53% capacity maintaining after 10 000 cycles), and desired mechanical flexibility. The methodology and results in this work will accelerate the transformative developments of flexible energy storage devices in practical applications.

Wearable chemical sensors based on 2D materials for healthcare applications

Chemical sensors worn on the body could make possible the continuous, noninvasive, and accurate monitoring of vital human signals, which is necessary for remote health monitoring and telemedicine. Attractive for creating high-performance, wearable chemical sensors are atomically thin materials with intriguing physical features, abundant chemistry, and high surface-to-volume ratios. These advantages allow for appropriate material-analyte interactions, resulting in a high level of sensitivity even at trace analyte concentrations. Previous review articles covered the material and device elements of 2D material-based wearable devices extensively. In contrast, little research has addressed the existing state, future outlook, and promise of 2D materials for wearable chemical sensors. We provide an overview of recent advances in 2D-material-based wearable chemical sensors to overcome this deficiency. The structure design, manufacturing techniques, and mechanisms of 2D material-based wearable chemical sensors will be evaluated, as well as their applicability in human health monitoring. Importantly, we present a thorough review of the current state of the art and the technological gaps that would enable the future design and nanomanufacturing of 2D materials and wearable chemical sensors. Finally, we explore the challenges and opportunities associated with designing and implementing 2D wearable chemical sensors.

In-situ atomic level observation of the strain response of graphene lattice

Strain is inevitable in two-dimensional (2D) materials, regardless of whether the film is suspended or supported. However, the direct measurement of strain response at the atomic scale is challenging due to the difficulties of maintaining both flexibility and mechanical stability at low temperature under UHV conditions. In this work, we have implemented a compact nanoindentation system with a size of [Formula: see text] 160 mm[Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] 5.2 mm in a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) sample holder, which enables the reversible control of strain and gate electric field. A combination of gearbox and piezoelectric actuator allowed us to modulate the depth of the indentation continuously with nanometer precision. The 2D materials were transferred onto the polyimide film. Pd clamp was used to enhance the strain transfer from the polyimide from to the 2D layers. Using this unique technique, strain response of graphene lattice were observed at atomic precision. In the relaxed graphene, strain is induced mainly by local curvature. However, in the strained graphene with tented structure, the lattice parameters become more sensitive to the indentor height change and stretching strain is increased additionally. Moreover, the gate controllability is confirmed by measuring the dependence of the STM tip height on gate voltage.

Assessing Meat Freshness via Nanotechnology Biosensors: Is the World Prepared for Lightning-Fast Pace Methods?

In the rapidly evolving field of food science, nanotechnology-based biosensors are one of the most intriguing techniques for tracking meat freshness. Purine derivatives, especially hypoxanthine and xanthine, are important signs of food going bad, especially in meat and meat products. This article compares the analytical performance parameters of traditional biosensor techniques and nanotechnology-based biosensor techniques that can be used to find purine derivatives in meat samples. In the introduction, we discussed the significance of purine metabolisms as analytes in the field of food science. Traditional methods of analysis and biosensors based on nanotechnology were also briefly explained. A comprehensive section of conventional and nanotechnology-based biosensing techniques is covered in detail, along with their analytical performance parameters (selectivity, sensitivity, linearity, and detection limit) in meat samples. Furthermore, the comparison of the methods above was thoroughly explained. In the last part, the pros and cons of the methods and the future of the nanotechnology-based biosensors that have been created are discussed.

In Situ Forming Epidermal Bioelectronics for Daily Monitoring and Comprehensive Exercise

Conventional epidermal bioelectronics usually do not conform well with natural skin surfaces and are susceptible to motion artifact interference, due to incompatible dimensions, insufficient adhesion, imperfect compliance, and usually require complex manufacturing and high costs. We propose in situ forming hydrogel electrodes or electronics (ISF-HEs) that can establish highly conformal interfaces on curved biological surfaces without auxiliary adhesions. The ISF-HEs also have favorable flexibility and soft compliance comparable to human skin (≈0.02 kPa^-1), which can stably maintain synchronous movements with deformed skins. Thus, the as-prepared ISF-HEs can accurately monitor large and tiny human motions with short response time (≈180 ms), good biocompatibility, and excellent performance. The as-obtained nongapped hydrogel electrode-skin interfaces achieve ultralow interfacial impedance (≈50 KΩ), nearly an order of magnitude lower than commercial Ag|AgCl electrodes as well as other reported dry and wet electrodes, regardless of the intrinsic micro-obstacles (wrinkles, hair) and skin deformation interference. Therefore, the ISF-HEs can collect high-quality electrocardiography and surface electromyography (sEMG) signals, with high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR ≈ 32.04 dB), reduced signal crosstalk, and minimized motion artifact interference. Simultaneously monitoring human motions and sEMG signals have also been implemented for the general exercise status assessment, such as the shooting competition in the Olympics. The as-prepared ISF-HEs can be considered as supplements/substitutes of conventional electrodes in percutaneously noninvasive monitoring of multifunctional physiological signals for health and exercise status.

2D-Materials-Based Wearable Biosensor Systems

As an evolutionary success in life science, wearable biosensor systems, which can monitor human health information and quantify vital signs in real time, have been actively studied. Research in wearable biosensor systems is mainly focused on the design of sensors with various flexible materials. Among them, 2D materials with excellent mechanical, optical, and electrical properties provide the expected characteristics to address the challenges of developing microminiaturized wearable biosensor systems. This review summarizes the recent research progresses in 2D-materials-based wearable biosensors including e-skin, contact lens sensors, and others. Then, we highlight the challenges of flexible power supply technologies for smart systems. The latest advances in biosensor systems involving wearable wristbands, diabetic patches, and smart contact lenses are also discussed. This review will enable a better understanding of the design principle of 2D biosensors, offering insights into innovative technologies for future biosensor systems toward their practical applications.

Thyme-Loaded Nanofibrous Dressing for Skin Wound Healing: A Combination of Chinese Traditional Medicine with Cutting-Edge Technology

The skin has vital functions and its defects and damages must be properly treated and healed. Chinese traditional herbal medicine has a long history in skin wound healing, and its merging with novel approaches (nanotechnology) has resulted in more promising results. The current study aimed to combine the biological properties of a long-lasting Chinese traditional herbal medicine (Thyme) with cutting-edge technology (electrospinning) to the fabricated interactive and bioactive wound dressing. The extract of Thyme was obtained and added into the polymeric solution and converted to the nanofibrous wound dressing. The SEM analysis revealed that the fabricated nanofibers were intact without deformity with an acceptable nanometric diameter. The release kinetics evaluation showed that 80±4% of the extract was released from the nanofibers during the first 24 h. Hemolysis lower than 8% for all nanofibers revealed hemocompatibility in the fabricated wound dressings. The in vitro studies confirmed the cytocompatibility of the nanofibers. The applied animal studies exhibited that the Thyme-loaded nanofibrous dressing enhanced the wound-healing process in a dose-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate the combination of Chinese traditional herbal medicine with modern cutting-edge technology, resulting in an interactive nanofibrous mat with promising potential as the wound dressing material.

The era of nano-bionic: 2D materials for wearable and implantable body sensors

Nano-bionics have the potential of revolutionizing modern medicine. Among nano-bionic devices, body sensors allow to monitor in real-time the health of patients, to achieve personalized medicine, and even to restore or enhance human functions. The advent of two-dimensional (2D) materials is facilitating the manufacturing of miniaturized and ultrathin bioelectronics, that can be easily integrated in the human body. Their unique electronic properties allow to efficiently transduce physical and chemical stimuli into electric current. Their flexibility and nanometric thickness facilitate the adaption and adhesion to human body. The low opacity permits to obtain transparent devices. The good cellular adhesion and reduced cytotoxicity are advantageous for the integration of the devices in vivo. Herein we review the latest and more significant examples of 2D material-based sensors for health monitoring, describing their architectures, sensing mechanisms, advantages and, as well, the challenges and drawbacks that hampers their translation into commercial clinical devices.

Carbon Nanomaterials (CNMs) and Enzymes: From Nanozymes to CNM-Enzyme Conjugates and Biodegradation

Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) and enzymes differ significantly in terms of their physico-chemical properties-their handling and characterization require very different specialized skills. Therefore, their combination is not trivial. Numerous studies exist at the interface between these two components-especially in the area of sensing-but also involving biofuel cells, biocatalysis, and even biomedical applications including innovative therapeutic approaches and theranostics. Finally, enzymes that are capable of biodegrading CNMs have been identified, and they may play an important role in controlling the environmental fate of these structures after their use. CNMs' widespread use has created more and more opportunities for their entry into the environment, and thus it becomes increasingly important to understand how to biodegrade them. In this concise review, we will cover the progress made in the last five years on this exciting topic, focusing on the applications, and concluding with future perspectives on research combining carbon nanomaterials and enzymes.

MXene/Carbon Nanotube Hybrids: Synthesis, Structures, Properties, and Applications

Since the successful preparation of few-layer transition metal carbides from three-dimensional MAX phases in 2011, MXenes (known as a family of layered transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides) have been intensively studied. Though MXenes have been adopted as active materials in many applications, issues including aggregation and restacking are likely to hamper their potential applications. In order to address these prevailing challenges, the concept of MXene/carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrids was proposed initially in 2015, where CNTs were incorporated as the spacers and conductive additives. Ever since, MXene/CNT hybrids with different architectures have been synthesized by a number of methods and applied in numerous fields. Herein, after the discussion about general synthesis approaches, architectures, and properties of the hybrids, this Review summarized the recent advances in the application of MXene/CNT hybrids in energy storage devices, sensors, electrocatalysis, electromagnetic interference shielding, and water treatment, in which the function of individual components was clarified. In the end, the current research trend in this field were discussed and several technical issues were highlighted along with some suggestions on future research directions.

Application of a super-stretched self-healing elastomer based on methyl vinyl silicone rubber for wearable electronic sensors

A super-stretched self-healing elastomer for flexible electronic devices by introducing quadruple hydrogen bonds.