We’re excited to share recent article — “2D MXenes in the Design of Heavy Metal Ion Sensors” — available online. This review focuses on the application of emerging 2D materials – MXenes – in heavy metal ion sensing systems. Article discusses their unique surface properties, functionalization capabilities, and applications in detecting lead, copper, mercury, silver, arsenic, and cadmium ions. The article also compares MXene-based sensors with other materials and explores their action mechanisms. Many thanks to our wonderful partners from Vilnius for this work. We’re excited to keep advancing research in this direction!
Navitski, I., Žukauskas, Š., Ramanavičius, S., Gogotsi, O., & Ramanavičius, A. (2025). 2D MXenes in the design of heavy metal ion sensors (Review). Trends in Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 47, e00270.
• This review is focused on the application of emerging materials – MXenes – in heavy metal ion sensing systems
• Some unique properties of MXenes, such as tunable surface functionality and functionalization ability, are discussed
• The most attention is dedicated to the determination of lead, copper, mercury, silver, arsenic and cadmium ions
• Performance of MXene-based sensors with that based on other materials are discussed
• Action mechanisms of some MXene-based sensors are outlined
Heavy metals are used across industries worldwide, generating large amounts of waste, leading to environmental contamination. Contamination from heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, and mercury, causes significant harm to health and quality of life. Thus, the development of new methods to detect heavy metal ions is essential for protecting public health. This can be achieved by creating fast and reliable sensors based on MXenes. The unique properties of MXenes, including tunable surface functionality, excellent electrical conductivity, and remarkable mechanical strength, enhance their suitability in sensor design. This review is focused on the application of MXenes in heavy metal ion sensing, the overview of sensor action mechanisms, and the potential applications of MXene-based sensors in environmental monitoring.
Full article reference: Navitski, I., Žukauskas, Š., Ramanavičius, S., Gogotsi, O., & Ramanavičius, A. (2025). 2D MXenes in the design of heavy metal ion sensors (Review). Trends in Environmental Analytical Chemistry, 47, e00270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teac.2025.e00270
Highlights
We are excited to share that our Carbon-Ukraine (Y-Carbon LLC) company participated in the I2DM Summit and Expo 2025 at Khalifa University in Abu-Dhabi! Huge thanks to Research & Innovation Center for Graphene and 2D Materials (RIC2D) for hosting such a high-level event.It was an incredible opportunity to meet brilliant researchers and innovators working on the next generation of 2D materials. The insights and energy from the summit will definitely drive new ideas in our own development.
Carbon-Ukraine team had the unique opportunity to visit XPANCEO - a Dubai-based deep tech startup company that is developing the first smart contact lenses with AR vision and health monitoring features, working on truly cutting-edge developments.
Our Carbon-Ukraine team (Y-Carbon LLC) are thrilled to start a new RIC2D project MX-Innovation in collaboration with Drexel University Yury Gogotsi and Khalifa University! Amazing lab tours to project collaborators from Khalifa University, great discussions, strong networking, and a wonderful platform for future collaboration.
MXenes potential applications include sensors, wound healing materials, and drug delivery systems. A recent study explored how different synthesis methods affect the safety and performance of MXenes. By comparing etching conditions and intercalation strategies, researchers discovered that fine-tuning the surface chemistry of MXenes plays a crucial role in improving biocompatibility. These results provide practical guidelines for developing safer MXenes and bring the field one step closer to real biomedical applications.
Carbon-Ukraine team was truly delighted to take part in the kickoff meeting of the ATHENA Project (Advanced Digital Engineering Methods to Design MXene-based Nanocomposites for Electro-Magnetic Interference Shielding in Space), supported by NATO through the Science for Peace and Security Programme.
Exellent news, our joint patent application with Drexel University on highly porous MAX phase precursor for MXene synthesis published. Congratulations and thanks to all team involved!
Our team was very delighted to take part in International Symposium "The MXene Frontier: Transformative Nanomaterials Shaping the Future" – the largest MXene event in Europe this year! 
Last Call! Have you submitted your abstract for IEEE NAP-2025 yet? Join us at the International Symposium on "The MXene Frontier: Transformative Nanomaterials Shaping the Future" – the largest MXene-focused conference in Europe this year! Final Submission Deadline: May 15, 2025. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to showcase your research and engage with world leaders in the MXene field!
We are excited to announce the publication of latest review article on MXenes in Healthcare. This comprehensive review explores the groundbreaking role of MXenes—an emerging class of 2D materials—in revolutionizing the fields of medical diagnostics and therapeutics. Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NR04853A.
Congratulations and thank you to our collaborators from TU Wien and CEST for very interesting work and making it published! In this work, an upscalable electrochemical MXene synthesis is presented. Yields of up to 60% electrochemical MXene (EC-MXene) with no byproducts from a single exfoliation cycle are achieved.
Congratulations to all collaborators with this interesting joint work!