Borophene-Based Gas Sensors: Fundamentals and Emerging Challenges

Gas sensors fabricated using two-dimensional (2D) materials are highly favored owing to their extensive surface-to-volume ratio, high surface activity, and various defect sites. However, 2D materials, before borophene, are limited by their meagre air stability and sedated dynamic output. Borophene has emerged as a potential member of the 2D material family with extremely high specific surface area, superlative reactivity, and quantum confinement attributes conferring outstanding physical, chemical, and electronic attributes. The gas-sensing properties of borophene-based sensors exhibit superior selectivity, extreme flexibility, and long-term stability. Here, we elaborate on the sensing characteristics and fabrication techniques of borophene-based materials and studies linked with the stabilization of borophene-based sensors through doping with different materials. Then, a mechanism for gas sensing using borophene-based sensors has been explored in depth by citing various studies from the literature. Although a lot of research is going on in this field, there are numerous challenges linked with the stability and synthesis of borophene-based nanomaterials that are needed to be addressed. In conclusion, after optimizing and addressing the various hurdles associated with borophene’s stability and scalability, this material may exhibit great potential in sensing mechanisms and can achieve ground-breaking results in real-time sensing.