Research progress of MXene materials in the application of heavy metal electrochemical detection

Detecting heavy metal pollution has become an essential technical guarantee in risk prevention and control, agricultural green development, food safety, and ecological protection. At present, there are many technologies to detect heavy metal ions, among which electrochemical detection methods have the advantages of high sensitivity, fast analysis, and simultaneous detection of a variety of metal ions, which have become a research area in the field of rapid detection of heavy metals. MXene is a transition metal-carbon/nitride material with a graphene-like structure with good hydrophilicity, electrical conductivity, and rich adjustable surface terminations. The focus of this study is the research progress of MXenes in the electrochemical detection of heavy metal ions. The sources, hazards, and detection methods of heavy metal contaminants are briefly described. Secondly, the synthesis methods of MXene are summarized, and the research progress of MXene in the electrochemical detection of heavy metals in recent years is reviewed, including the sensing mechanism and detection performance analysis. Finally, the challenges and prospects of MXene materials in the electrochemical detection of heavy metals are discussed.