Numerical investigation of a high-performance MXene and graphene-based metamaterial absorber for terahertz biosensing

• The proposed MXene (Ti 3 C 2 Tx) and graphene-based biosensor is designed in the 0–1 THz range, specifically at 0.688 THz, leveraging the strong molecular fingerprinting capabilities of this band for highly precise biosensing applications. • It achieves ultra-narrowband absorption with an FWHM of 0.0105 THz, along with S = 0.4 THz/RIU, FOM = 40 RIU −1 , and Q = 102, surpassing existing THz biosensors while maintaining above 90 % absorption up to 75° (TE) and 65° (TM), ensuring robust angular stability. • Designed for the detection of malaria, dengue, blood cancer, breast cancer, and skin cancer, the compact and symmetric structure ensures strong field confinement while being fabrication-friendly. • Graphene-based tunability allows dynamic resonance control, making the absorber highly adaptable for next-generation THz-based biosensing applications. This work presents a high-performance MXene- and graphene-centered metamaterial absorber for terahertz (THz) biosensing applications. The proposed absorber exhibits an ultra-narrowband response at 0.668 THz with an exceptionally high-quality factor (Q) of 102.9, sensitivity (S) of 0.4 THz/RIU, and figure of merit (FOM) of 40 RIU −1 , outperforming existing THz sensors. The strong field confinement achieved through localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in MXene and tunable graphene layers enhances detection accuracy. The absorber maintains polarization insensitivity (PI) and wide incidence angle stability, ensuring robust operation under real-world conditions. By leveraging the unique properties of MXene for high conductivity and graphene for dynamic tunability, the sensor achieves superior performance in the 0.1–1 THz molecular fingerprinting regime, enabling efficient detection of malaria, dengue, and various cancers. The compact, planar design simplifies fabrication while offering reconfigurable spectral characteristics, making it a promising platform for next-generation THz biosensing and precision diagnostics.