High-Performance Nanoscale Electronic Sensors—Innovations and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

As one of the disruptive technologies of the 21st century, nanoelectronic sensors achieve the ultra-sensitive detection of trace molecules, biomarkers, and environmental parameters by combining the unique physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials, including their specific surface area, quantum confinement effect, surface plasmon resonance, etc., with micro-nano processing technology. Since breakthrough research was conducted on two-dimensional materials such as carbon nanotubes and graphene, nanosensors have continued to innovate detection limits in medical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, industrial Internet of Things, and smart wearables. In recent years, the emergence of new nanomaterials (such as MXene and metal–organic frameworks), the integration of flexible electronic devices, and artificial intelligence-driven data analysis technology have further promoted the development of this field towards miniaturization, intelligence, and multi-functionality.

This Special Issue aims to bring together the cutting-edge achievements of researchers around the world in the field of high-performance nanoelectronic sensors, focusing on breakthroughs in material innovation, device design, system integration, and practical application scenarios. We aim to explore the following topics:

• How nanomaterial engineering (such as heterostructures and surface functionalization) can improve sensor sensitivity, selectivity, and stability;
• The role of new manufacturing technologies (such as atomic layer deposition and inkjet printing) in promoting large-scale production;
• The interdisciplinary applications of nanosensors in precision medicine, smart agriculture, and green energy;
• Industrial challenges such as standardization, biocompatibility, and long-term reliability.

The research scope of this issue includes but is not limited to materials science, analytical chemistry, microelectronics engineering, biomedical engineering, environmental science, and artificial intelligence intersection.

We aim to explore the following topics through cutting-edge research:

• Two-dimensional and heterostructured nanomaterials: gas sensors based on graphene/MoS₂ heterojunctions and MXene-based flexible pressure sensors;
• Self-powered and low-power systems: battery-free sensing using piezoelectric/triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs);
• Bionic and bio-fusion devices: DNA origami nanostructures and cell membrane bionic interfaces in biosensing;
• Intelligent sensor networks: AI algorithm-driven multimodal sensor data fusion and edge computing;
• Adaptability to extreme environments: the performance of high-temperature/corrosion-resistant nanosensors in aerospace and deep-sea exploration;
• Standardization and ethical issues: establishing a safety assessment and regulatory framework for the large-scale deployment of nanosensors.

The type of papers we are soliciting: Research papers should demonstrate substantial progress in the material design of nanosensors, their performance optimization, and application in scenarios (including experimental verification and comparative analysis); Review articles must systematically review the technical development routes, challenges, and future opportunities in specific sub-fields.

Dr. Lu Zhang
Dr. Jiang Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• electrochemical sensors
• SERS sensors
• gas sensors
• wearable devices
• self-powered sensors
• multimodal sensing
• MEMs
• machine learning
• two-dimensional materials
• quantum dots