Functional Design of Metal Aerogels for Wearable Electrochemical Biosensing

Abstract

Metal aerogels (MAs) represent a novel class of aerogels composed entirely of interconnected metal nanoparticles or nanostructures. They integrate the unique physicochemical properties of metals with the high surface area and porosity of traditional aerogels, resulting in high electrochemical activity, efficient mass and electron transport, and considerable mechanical stability. These attributes make MAs particularly appealing for applications in wearable electrochemical biosensing. As electrode materials for electrochemical sensors, MAs can serve as carriers for enzymes or as electrocatalysts (with inherent electrocatalytic properties), thereby delivering superior sensing performance. Moreover, their three-dimensional, interconnected network-structure imparts inherent flexibility, provides inherent flexibility, making them highly suitable for wearable biosensing electrodes. This review highlights recent advancements in the functional design of MAs for wearable electrochemical sensors and evaluates their performance in human biomarker monitoring. It also explores the challenges and future potential of MAs in such wearable devices. With ongoing progress in materials science, MAs-based wearable biosensors hold significant promise for advancing disease diagnosis and health management.