highly sensitive target detection (Figure 17.4b). The carbon nanodot (CND) is another
example of the carbon-based nanomaterials applicable in biological fields. The CND is a
spherical NP less than 10 nm in size, usually in the form of nanocrystals with sp2/sp3
carbon clusters. The CND has merits for the fabrication of bioelectronic devices such as
electrical conductivity, high solubility in various solvents, and large active areas. By using
the CND, Ramadan’s group fabricated a CND-based FET biosensor for ultrasensitive
detection of exosomes [24]. In this research, the CND was introduced to promote the
capturing efficiency of exosomes and increase the sensitivity of the FET biosensor. In
addition, various types of carbon-based nanomaterials such as the multi-well carbon
nanotubes (MWCNTs), crumpled graphene, and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have
been reported to be used in biological fields [25], particularly in the development of
bioelectronic devices.
17.3.3 TMD Nanomaterials
Recently, TMD nanomaterials including molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), tungsten dis
elenide (WSe2), molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2), and tungsten disulfide (WS2) have re
ceived intensive attention due to the fascinating physicochemical and electrochemical
properties resulting from quantum size effects in ultrathin-layered structures [26]. The
TMD nanomaterials are classified into 2H phase and 1T phase, according to the crystal
structure, and each has unique properties. The 2H phase of TMD nanomaterials shows
excellent catalytic, electronic performance, and semiconducting characteristics for energy-
related applications including super-capacitor and battery. The 1T phase of TMD nano
materials generally has metallic properties such as enhancement of charge transfer
efficiency and electrochemical performance. Also, the TMD nanomaterials have a direct
bandgap that enables them to overcome the bandgap problem of graphene. Accordingly,
TMD nanomaterials are used to develop bioelectronic devices such as FET, biomemory,
and biosensors. As shown in Figure 17.4c, Kim’s group reported a bioelectronic platform
using the MoS2 nanosheets for FET based ion channel activity monitoring [21]. For this,
the liquid-gated MoS2 FET array was fabricated, and the developed device detected the
changes in electrolytes through changes in the electrical properties of MoS2 nanosheets. The
electrical properties of MoS2 nanosheets were affected by proton transport through the lipid
bilayer on the surface of the MoS2 nanosheets. In another study, Kim’s group developed a
soft bioelectronic device using high-density MoS2-graphene heterostructure [27]. Here, an
atomically thin MoS2-graphene heterostructure was developed as a phototransistor, which
had two to three times higher photosensitivity compared to a silicon photodiode of the
same thickness, due to the efficient photo-absorption of MoS2. As briefly discussed here,
MoS2 nanosheets are studied the most, but WSe2, WS2, and other structures of MoS2
(quantum dot (QD), NR) are also being gradually studied to combine with biomaterials for
developing bioelectronic devices [28].
17.3.4 Mxene Nanomaterials
Since the discovery of graphene, 2D nanomaterials have received a lot of attention for
applications in various fields due to their high anisotropy and chemical function. In par
ticular, 2D transition metal carbides (or nitrides) named MXene have been studied [29].
The MXene consists of Mn+1XnTx, and in that composition, M is a transition metal (e.g., Ti,
V), X is carbon and nitrogen, and Tx is a functional group (e.g., -F, -OH). The MXene exhibits
high dispersibility in an aqueous solution because it has a layered structure and a
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