Polymer/MXene Composite-Based Flexible Pressure Sensors: From Mechanisms and Structural Designs to Emerging Applications

Wearable electronics are increasingly utilized in mobile healthcare, human-machine interfaces, and portable energy systems due to their inherent flexibility and stretchability. Recently, MXene, a two-dimensional material, has emerged as a transformative material for flexible sensors, owing to its exceptional electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, hydrophilicity, and tunable surface chemistry. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in flexible pressure sensors based on polymer/MXene composites. The fundamental sensing mechanisms are elaborated, including piezoresistive, capacitive, piezoelectric, and triboelectric modes, and the rational selection of substrate materials, fabrication techniques, and structural design principles for high-performance sensors are comprehensively discussed. Furthermore, the article spotlights the promising applications of polymer/MXene-based sensors across a range of cutting-edge fields. Finally, the key challenges hindering their large-scale production and practical deployment are outlined to guide future research and accelerate the widespread adoption of polymer/MXene composites in flexible sensing technologies.