Ultra-Sensitive Wearable MXene Sensor for Real-Time Human-Machine Interfaces

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Ultra-Sensitive Wearable MXene Sensor for Real-Time Human-Machine Interfaces

Their findings have been published in Advanced Functional Materials on April 11, 2026.

Research
JooHyeon Heo
2026.05.18
35

Ultra-Sensitive Wearable MXene Sensor for Real-Time Human-Machine Interfaces

Abstract

In the era of autonomous systems and multifunctional devices, sensors serve as vital sensory components in our Internet of Things and technologically advanced society. At the end of the synthetic 2D nanomaterials research, MXenes are not just chemicals but materials, depending on how they are synthesized for targeted applications, such as dual-functional temperature and pressure-sensitive wearable sensing. The current findings introduce the potential strategic role of nitrogen atoms to the Ti-Carbonitride (Ti3CNTz) structure in a controlled compositional stoichiometry of Ti3C1.8N0.2Tz, Ti3C1.5N0.5Tz, Ti3CNTz, Ti3C2Tx to deliver an ultrahigh sensitivity (300%–400% temperature & pressure sensitivity enhancement) and durability in real-time human-machine sensing interface applications. These recorded outstanding dual-sensing performance outplays many other MXene stoichiometries, graphene-related 2D nanomaterials, and their associated composites. Synchrotron radiation-based X-ray absorption fine structure and density functional theory analysis reveal that incorporating low N content (e.g., Ti3C1.8N0.2Tz) enhances temperature sensitivity by boosting electrical conductivity, and an upshift in the vibrational spectrum with increased lattice deformability significantly improves pressure sensitivity. We provide valuable insights for developing advanced sensing materials, emphasizing the need to investigate the fundamental mechanisms that control the interactions among layered 2D MXene materials and the sensing device functions that bridge human and machine interfaces.

A research team, affiliated with UNIST has unveiled a groundbreaking wearable sensor material, capable of detecting body temperature, coughing, swallowing, and other subtle physiological signals when applied to the skin.

Led by Professors Soo-Hyun Kim and Soon-Yong Kwon from the Graduate School of Semiconductor Materials and Devices Engineering, the team developed a novel titanium carbonitride-based MXene (Ti3CNTz) with unparalleled sensitivity to both temperature and pressure. This innovation achieves over three times the temperature sensitivity and more than four times the pressure sensitivity of conventional MXenes, enabling precise detection of minute biological cues.

This advanced material, Ti3CNTz, benefits from carefully optimized nitrogen content, which enhances electrical conductivity and lattice vibrational responses. Its unique structure not only boosts sensitivity but also enhances mechanical durability, as validated through both theoretical and experimental analysis.

In practical applications, sensors made from this MXene accurately distinguished subtle vocal cord vibrations, blinking, pulse waves, and gait patterns—all without direct contact. Remarkably, they can even detect temperature changes from a short distance, such as infrared heat emitted by a smartphone flash.

Professor Kim highlights that this multifunctional sensor represents a transformative development in next-generation human-machine interfaces and electronic skin. Its versatility paves the way for numerous applications in healthcare, energy storage, catalysis, and electromagnetic shielding.

Published in Advanced Functional Materials, this research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) and the InnoCORE program of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Journal Reference

Debananda Mohapatra, Ju-Hyoung Han, Hyun Jin Kang, et al., "Anomalous Pressure-Temperature Ultrahigh Sensitivities in Atomically Engineered Carbonitride MXenes for Multifunctional Wearable Human–Machine Interfaces: Joint Computational–Experimental Elucidations," Adv. Funct. Mater., (2026).