Electrospun nanomaterials for ultrasensitive sensors

TLDR

Demand for highly sensitive sensors in environmental monitoring, food inspection, and medical diagnostics has spurred interest in electrospun nanofibers, whose large surface area and porosity make them attractive for ultrasensitive sensing and other nanotechnological applications. This review summarizes recent advances in electrospun nanomaterials for acoustic wave, resistive, photoelectric, optical, and amperometric sensing, and aims to guide the development of more sensitive and selective nanosensors. The authors illustrate how electrospun nanomaterials are employed in these sensing modalities, discussing their working principles and optimization strategies.

Abstract

Increasing demands for ever more sensitive sensors for global environmental monitoring, food inspection and medical diagnostics have led to an upsurge of interests in nanostructured materials such as nanofibers and nanowebs. Electrospinning exhibits the unique ability to produce diverse forms of fibrous assemblies. The remarkable specific surface area and high porosity bring electrospun nanomaterials highly attractive to ultrasensitive sensors and increasing importance in other nanotechnological applications. In this review, we summarize recent progress in developments of the electrospun nanomaterials with applications in some predominant sensing approaches such as acoustic wave, resistive, photoelectric, optical, amperometric, and so on, illustrate with examples how they work, and discuss their intrinsic fundamentals and optimization designs. We are expecting the review to pave the way for developing more sensitive and selective nanosensors.