Ammonia sensing by hydrochloric acid doped poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>-aminophenol)–silver nanocomposite

Processable poly(m-aminophenol) (PmAP) was synthesized using ammonium persulfate oxidant in 0.6 M sodium hydroxide solution at room temperature. Then, in situ PmAP–silver nanocomposite film was obtained by casting PmAP film from dimethyl sulfoxide with silver hydroxide ammonia mixture at 140 °C. The nanocomposite film was doped with hydrochloric acid (HCl) by general solution doping technique. The undoped and HCl-doped films were characterized by ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, Fourier transformed Infrared spectroscopy, transmittance electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis. Spectroscopic characterizations confirmed that the PmAP was doped by silver nanoparticles and it was further doped by HCl used. So, the synthesized PmAP–silver nanocomposite showed a conductivity of 1.01 × 10⁻⁶ S/cm, which was increased to 3.27 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm after HCl doping. The well dispersed silver nanoparticles with average size 130–150 nm was observed by SEM and TEM analysis. Unlike conventional ammonia sensor here, the resistivity of the nanocomposite film was decreased on exposure to ammonia gas and the sensing properties of the HCl-doped nanocomposite films were also reproducible. It can be seen that the % response of doped nanocomposite was unchanged while, the response time was decreased with increasing ammonia vapor concentrations in air. The ammonia-sensing characteristics of the HCl-doped nanocomposite film was explained on the basis of a proposed mechanism.     

High-performance ammonia gas sensor based on bimetallic oxide Zn2SnO4 decorated with reduced graphene oxide

The coupling effect and synergistic effect between the two metal elements of the bimetallic oxide make it has unique electrical characteristics and gas-sensitive properties, but it has the limitation of low conductivity. In this paper, the bimetallic oxide Zn₂SnO₄ was decorated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to increase its electrical conductivity and promote charge transfer during gas adsorption, which enhances the response and shortens the response time of the bimetallic oxide gas sensor. The high-performance ammonia sensor based on Zn₂SnO₄/rGO nanocomposite material was prepared by environmentally friendly hydrothermal method and spin coating technology. The structure and properties of composite materials were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The ammonia sensing performance of Zn₂SnO₄/rGO nanocomposite sensor was tested at room temperature, including the dynamic response, response/recovery time, selectivity, repeatability, long-term stability. It showed a good sensing response to ammonia (22.94 for 100 ppm), and a fast response/recovery time (20 s/27 s). Finally, the response mechanism of Zn₂SnO₄/rGO nanocomposite sensor is explained. The enhanced ammonia sensing properties of Zn₂SnO₄/rGO nanocomposite sensor were ascribed to the synergistic effect and p–n heterojunction between Zn₂SnO₄ and rGO.

     

The effect of carbon nanotube dispersion on CO gas sensing characteristics of polyaniline gas sensor

Polyaniline is one of the most promising conducting polymers for gas sensing applications due to its relatively high stability and n or p type doping capability. However, the conventionally doped polyaniline still exhibits relatively high resistivity, which causes difficulty in gas sensing measurement. In this work, the effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersion on CO gas sensing characteristics of polyaniline gas sensor is studied. The carbon nanotube was synthesized by Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) using acetylene and argon gases at 600 degrees C. The Maleic acid doped Emeradine based polyaniline was synthesized by chemical polymerization of aniline. CNT was then added and dispersed in the solution by ultrasonication and deposited on to interdigitated AI electrode by solvent casting. The sensors were tested for CO sensing at room temperature with CO concentrations in the range of 100-1000 ppm. It was found that the gas sensing characteristics of polyaniline based gas sensor were considerably improved with the inclusion of CNT in polyaniline. The sensitivity was increased and response/recovery times were reduced by more than the factor of 2. The results, therefore, suggest that the inclusion of CNT in MA-doped polyaniline is a promising method for achieving a conductive polymer gas sensor with good sensitivity, fast response, low-concentration detection and room-operating-temperature capability.     

Few layer graphene/silver nanocomposite based flexible and resistive liquefied petroleum gas sensor

The LPG gas sensing characteristics of hybrid few-layered graphene (FLG)/ silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) nanoarchitecture have been investigated. FLG and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) enhance the LPG gas sensing characteristics by collectively involving in the electronic transportation and diffusion mechanisms. FLG, Ag and FLG/ Silver nanocomposites are developed by ultra-sonication assisted method, and the effect of flexibility on gas sensing performance was thoroughly examined. The sensing materials as thin films are developed via drop-casting technique on photo lithography patterned flexible interdigitated electrodes (IDEs). The gas sensing characteristics of the prepared sensor are studied for LPG and other analytes at room temperature. The maximum response is observed for FLG/Ag nanocomposite to 100 ppm LPG at room temperature. FLG/Ag nanocomposite sensor demonstrates rapid response, high selectivity, reproducibility and good stability over a period of 30 days. Further the durability and flexibility tests conducted for the FLG/Ag hybrid sensor at bending angles reveal 78% stability even after 15 days of sensing studies.

     

Enhanced acetone detection using Au doped ZnO thin film sensor

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films are prepared using sol–gel method for acetone vapor sensing. Zinc acetate dihydrate (Zn(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O) was taken as starting material and a stable and homogeneous solution was prepared in ethanol by deliquescing the zinc acetate and distinct amount of monoethanolamine as a stabilizing agent. The prepared solution was then coated on silicon substrates by spin coating method and then annealed at 650 °C for preparing ZnO thin films. The thickness of the film was maintained at 410 nm. The structural, morphological and optical studies were done for the synthesized ZnO thin films. The operating temperature and sensor response is considered to be an important parameter for the gas sensing behavior of any material. Therefore, the present study examined the effect of sensing behavior of 3% v/v gold (Au) doped ZnO thin films as a sensor. The response characteristics of 410 nm ZnO thin film for temperature ranging from 180 to 360 °C were determined for the acetone vapors. The reported study provides a significant development towards acetone sensors, where a very high sensitivity with rapid response and recovery times are reported with lowered optimal operating temperature as compared to bare ZnO nano-chains like structured thin films. In comparison to the bare ZnO thin films giving a response of 63 at an operating temperature of 320 °C, a much better response of 132.3 was observed for the Au doped ZnO thin films at an optimised operating temperature of 280 °C for a concentration of 500 ppm of acetone vapors.     

Faster response of NO₂ sensing in graphene-WO₃ nanocomposites

Graphene-based nanocomposites have proven to be very promising materials for gas sensing applications. In this paper, we present a general approach for the preparation of graphene-WO(3) nanocomposites. Graphene-WO(3) nanocomposite thin-layer sensors were prepared by drop coating the dispersed solution onto the alumina substrate. These nanocomposites were used for the detection of NO(2) for the first time. TEM micrographs revealed that WO(3) nanoparticles were well distributed on graphene nanosheets. Three different compositions (0.2, 0.5 and 0.1 wt%) of graphene with WO(3) were used for the gas sensing measurements. It was observed that the sensor response to NO(2) increased nearly three times in the case of graphene-WO(3) nanocomposite layer as compared to a pure WO(3) layer at room temperature. The best response of the graphene-WO(3) nanocomposite was obtained at 250?°C.     

Ionic liquid high-temperature gas sensor array

A novel sensor array using seven room-temperature ionic liquids (ILs) as sensing materials and a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) as a transducer was developed for the detection of organic vapors at ambient and elevated temperatures. Ethanol, dichloromethane, benzene, and heptane were selected as representative gas analytes for various kinds of environmental pollutants and common industrial solvents. The QCM/IL sensors responded proportionately and reversibly to the organic vapor concentrations (i.e., ethanol, heptane, and benzene) in the gas phase from 0 to 100% saturation at room and elevated temperatures (e.g., 120 degrees C) but deviated from this linear relationship at high concentrations for dichloromethane, a highly volatile compound. Linear discriminant analysis was used to analyze the sensing patterns. Excellent classifications were obtained for both known and unknown concentrations of vapor samples. The correct classifications were 100% for known concentration samples and 96% for samples with unknown concentrations. Thermodynamics and ATR-FT-IR studies were conducted to understand specific molecular interactions, the strength of the interaction between ILs and organic vapors, and the degree of ordering that takes place upon dissolution of the vapors in ILs. The different response intensity of the QCM/IL sensors to the organic vapors depends on the different solubilities of organic vapors in ILs and varying molecular/ion interactions between each organic vapor and IL. The diverse set of IL studied showed selective responses due to structural differences. Therefore, a sensor array of ILs would be able to effectively differentiate different vapors in pattern recognitions, facilitating discrimination by their distinctive patterns in response to organic vapors in both room and high temperatures.     

Olfactory receptor-based polypeptide sensor for acetic acid VOC detection

Rapid detection of food-borne pathogens in packaged food products can prevent the spread of infectious diseases. This study investigates the application of novel sensing material that is sensitive to specific indicator volatile organic compound (VOC) related to Salmonella contamination in packaged meat. Specifically, the objective was to develop an olfactory receptor-based synthetic polypeptide sensor for the detecting acetic acid in low concentrations and at room temperature. Synthetic polypeptide was deposited on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) electrode and was evaluated for detecting acetic acid at 10–100 ppm. Developed sensor exhibited repeatable response to a particular concentration of acetic acid and displayed reproducibility among multiple sensors during acetic acid detection. Mean estimated lower detection limits of these sensors were about 1–3 ppm and linear calibration models showed linear relationships. Thus, the QCM sensors exhibited a great potential for detecting low concentrations of acetic acid at room temperature and can be used in the sensor array for packaged meat spoilage and contamination detection.     

In situ growth of Prussian blue nanocubes on polypyrrole nanoparticles: facile synthesis,characterization and their application as fiber optic gas sensor

Polypyrrole (PPy) and polypyrrole/Prussian blue (PPy–PB) nanocomposite-based fiber optic gas sensors are developed for gas sensing application. Prussian blue (PB) nanocubes are successfully grown on polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles by in situ oxidative polymerization method to obtain PPy–PB nanocomposite. PPy and PPy–PB are evaluated based on structural, morphological and electrical properties. The characteristic peaks present in the FTIR spectra of pure PPy and PB nanoparticles are also present in the FTIR spectrum of PPy–PB nanocomposite with small shifts in the absorption maximum. The XRD pattern reveals the semicrystalline structure of PPy–PB nanocomposite with an average crystallite size of 22 nm, and the morphology (FESEM) shows the formation of PB nanocubes over PPy matrix. AC conductivity measurements show slight improvement in the conductivity value of PPy–PB in comparison with PPy. Dielectric studies in the frequency range of 50 Hz–5 MHz reveal that PPy–PB nanocomposite is a high-k dielectric material. At 50 Hz, PPy–PB exhibits high dielectric constants of 1149 and 766 with low dielectric loss values of 9.9 and 4.6 at 150 and 120 °C, respectively. Further, their application as fiber optic gas sensors in sensing various gases is studied using fiber optic technique. The spectral response is studied for various concentrations (0–500 ppm) of ammonia, acetone and ethanol gases at room temperature. The study shows that the spectral intensity increases linearly with different concentrations of all gases. The clad-modified fiber optic sensor with PPy–PB nanocomposite exhibits enhanced sensitivity for ethanol than clad-modified fiber optic sensor with PPy nanoparticles. TGA studies reveal the high thermal stability of PPy–PB nanocomposite. Hence, PPy–PB-based fiber optic sensors can be used to sense toxic ethanol vapor not only at room temperature but also in a composite environment where a temperature variation is expected.     

Fabricating ZnO nanorods sensor for chemical gas detection at room temperature

We present a sensor fabricated by simply casting ZnO nanorods on a microelectrodes array for chemical gas detection at room temperature. The ammonia and ethanol gas sensing characteristics were carefully investigated. The sensor exhibited high sensitivity for both ammonia and ethanol gases. The response and recover time are less than 20 seconds, respectively. Present results demonstrate the potential application of ZnO nanorods for fabricating highly sensitive gas sensors.     

Screen-printed single-walled carbon nanotube networks and their use for dimethyl methylphosphonate detection

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) films were prepared on silicon/silica substrates by screen-printed technique at a wafer scale, and their sensing properties to dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) were studied. The SWNT networks were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscope. The resistance responses to different concentrations of DMMP vapors were investigated at room temperature. The results showed that the resistance changes of the screen-printed SWNT films increased rapidly in varying concentrations ranging from 20 to 200?ppm. The sensor exhibited high resistance responses, good reproducibility and excellent long-term stability for DMMP vapor detection. The screen-printed SWNT networks would be potentially extended to large-scale, low cost and simple manufacturing sensor applications.     

Dimethyl methylphosphonate detection with a single-walled carbon nanotube capacitive sensor fabricated by airbrush technique

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) films were prepared on interdigitated electrodes by airbrush technique, and their sensing properties to dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) were studied. The SWNT films were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscope. The response to different concentrations of DMMP vapors were investigated at room temperature. The results showed that the capacitance of airbrush SWNT sensor decreased rapidly in varying concentrations ranging from 12 to 60 mg/m³ (2.4–12 ppm). The capacitance sensitivity was about 12.5 % when exposed to 12 mg/m³ DMMP vapor. The capacitance sensitivity was higher when the initial capacitance and loss tangent were higher and the SWNT film was denser. It was found that the capacitance sensitivity was nearly 10 times to the resistance sensitivity. The airbrush SWNT sensor exhibited highly and fast capacitance response, good repeatability and selectivity for DMMP vapor.     

Construction of MoO3/MoSe2 nanocomposite-based gas sensor for low detection limit trimethylamine sensing at room temperature

In this paper, MoO₃/MoSe₂ nanocomposite was constructed by an improved hydrothermal and spin coating method for fabricating trimethylamine (TMA) gas sensor. The surface morphology and microstructure of the prepared materials were analyzed by XRD, XPS, SEM and TEM characterization methods. The microstructural characterization results demonstrated that the MoO₃/MoSe₂ nanocomposite had been successfully synthesized, in which the MoSe₂ had a flower-shaped structure, and MoO₃ had a rod-shaped structure. At the same time, the MoSe₂ surface exhibited periodic honeycomb structure. The gas sensitivity experimental results showed that the proposed MoO₃/MoSe₂ sensor had excellent TMA sensing performance at room temperature, including high response capability, low detection limit (20 ppb), short response/recovery time (12 s/19 s), long-term stability, good repeatability and outstanding selectivity. The heterostructure of MoO₃/MoSe₂ had made outstanding contributions to the enhanced TMA gas sensing performance at room temperature.

     

The gas sensitivity of nano TiO2-SnO2 film doped with Cd(II) ion

The nanocomposite oxide (0.2TiO₂-0.8SnO₂) doped with Cd²⁺ powder have been prepared and characterized by XRD and their gas-sensing sensitivity were characterized using gas sensing measurement. Experimental results show that, bicomponent nano anatase TiO₂ and rutile SnO₂ particulate thick film doped with Cd²⁺ behaves with good sensitivity to formaldehyde gas of 200 ppm in the air, and the optimum sensing temperature was reduced from 360 °C to 320 °C compared with the undoped Cd²⁺ thick film. The gas sensing thick films doped with Cd²⁺ also show good selectivity to formaldehyde among benzene, toluene, xylene and ammonia as disturbed gas and could be effectively used as an indoor formaldehyde sensor.     

Fabrication and calibration of oxazine-based optic fiber sensor for detection of ammonia in water

This paper presented the fabrication and calibration of a clad-modified evanescent based plastic optical fiber (POF) sensor for the detection of ammonia in both stagnant and dynamic aqueous media. This optochemical sensor was based on Oxazine 170 perchlorate (sensing material) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) (protective material) thin layers. A special chemical solution was developed for the etching removal of cladding and a methodology for trapping moisture was exercised. Experimental results on dissolved ammonia detection exhibited short response time (≤10 s), low detection limit (minimum detection limit 1.4 ppm), high sensitivity, and excellent reversibility (over 99%).     

Preparation of modified MWCNTs-doped PANI nanorods by oxygen plasma and their ammonia-sensing properties

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-doped polyaniline (PANI) nanopowders were prepared by chemical oxidation polymerization. Then, the MWCNTs-doped PANI nanopowders were modified by a radio frequency (RF) oxygen plasma source. The morphology and structure of modified MWCNTs-doped PANI nanorods were analyzed by SEM and FI-IR. Gas sensors were fabricated based on plasma modified MWCNTs-doped PANI nanorods to detect ammonia at room temperature. The response amplitude of the gas sensor based on modified MWCNTs-doped PANI nanorods was much higher than those of MWCNTs-doped PANI nanopowders and pure PANI nanopowders sensors, respectively, in ammonia concentration range of 10–150 ppm. Cross responses of modified MWCNTs-doped PANI nanorods sensor to ammonia, ethanol, formaldehyde, and toluene were tested. The sensor showed good selectivity and stability. The sensing mechanism of modified MWCNTs-doped PANI nanorods gas sensor was analyzed.     

Room temperature synthesis and ammonia sensing of monodispersed hierarchical 1 and 3-dimensional Co3O4 nanostructures: switching from p to n-type sensing

This study report on a sonochemical synthesis of 1- and 3-dimensional hierarchical nanostructured cobalt oxide systems (Co₃O₄) and their application in ammonia sensing at room temperature (i.e., 30 °C). The Co₃O₄ nanostructures were synthesized via a room temperature-assisted precipitation and subsequent thermal treatment of the oxalate precursor. The resulted nanostructures were characterized by SEM, XRD, TEM, FTIR spectroscopy, BET, and TGA/DTA. The synthesis mechanism was proposed on the basis of morphology analyzed at various stages of the particle growth. It was observed that the final hierarchical microspheres structure resulted from the self-aggregation of the initially formed nanorods. The microspheres and nanorods were used as efficient room temperature gas sensors for ammonia detection in the concentration range of 0.01–500 ppm. The nanorod-based sensor showed an unusual n-type sensing behavior to ammonia in a temperature range of 30–300 °C. This transition of p to n-type was correlated to the formation of successive layers of physisorbed water molecules at the surface of the synthesized Co₃O₄. However, in case of the microspheres, the n-type behavior and superior sensitivity were observed at 30 °C followed by a negligible response up to 200 °C, while the intrinsic p-type behavior was recorded at an elevated temperature (200–300 °C). The observed unusual sensing performance may be associated with the crystallographic nature and lattice strain in the material structures. Additionally, the large specific surface area and the change in crystalline structure with temperature made the as prepared novel hierarchical Co₃O₄ structures a distinctive material for sensing ammonia at 30 °C.

     

Fabrication of a room-temperature NO2 gas sensor based on WO3 films and WO3/MWCNT nanocomposite films by combining polyol process with metal organic decomposition method

Polyol process was combined with metal organic decomposition (MOD) method to fabricate a room-temperature NO₂ gas sensor based on a tungsten oxide (WO₃) film and another a nanocomposite film of WO₃/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (WO₃/MWCNTs). X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to analyze the structure and morphology of the fabricated films. Comparative gas sensing results indicated that the sensor that was based on the WO₃/MWCNT nanocomposite film exhibited a much higher sensitivity than that based on a WO₃ film in detecting NO₂ gas at room temperature. Microstructural observations revealed that MWCNTs were embedded in the WO₃ matrix. Therefore, a model of potential barriers to electronic conduction in the composite material was used to suggest that the high sensitivity is associated with the stretching of the two depletion layers at the surface of the WO₃ film and at the interface of the WO₃ film and the MWCNTs when detected gases are adsorbed at room temperature. The sensor that is based on a nanocomposite film of WO₃/MWCNT exhibited a strong response in detecting very low concentrations of NO₂ gas at room temperature and is practical because of the ease of its fabrication.     

Room temperature sensor based on carbon nanotubes and nanofibres for methane detection

Carbon nanotubes and nanofibres deposited by an electrodeposition technique were utilized to fabricate sensor material for the detection of methane. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) and nanofibres were grown on Si(0 0 1) substrate using acetonitrile (1% v/v) and water as electrolyte at an applied d.c. potential ∼20 V. Sensing properties were studied with as-deposited CNT films. It was found that the films showed good sensing properties at room temperature.     

Dynamic Passivation in Perovskite Quantum Dots for Specific Ammonia Detection at Room Temperature

Perovskite structured CsPbX₃ (X = Cl, Br, or I) quantum dots (QDs) have attracted considerable interest in the past few years due to their excellent optoelectronic properties. Surface passivation is one of the main pathways to optimize the optoelectrical performance of perovskite QDs, in which the amino group plays an important role for the corresponding interaction between lead and halide. In this work, it is found that ammonia gas could dramatically increase photoluminescence of purified QDs and effectively passivate surface defects of perovskite QDs introduced during purification, which is a reversible process. This phenomenon makes perovskite QDs a kind of ideal candidate for detection of ammonia gas at room temperature. This QD film sensor displays specific recognition behavior toward ammonia gas due to its significant fluorescence enhancement, while depressed luminescence in case of other gases. The sensor, in turn‐on mode, shows a wide detection range from 25 to 350 ppm with a limit of detection as low as 8.85 ppm. Meanwhile, a fast response time of ≈10 s is achieved, and the recovery time is ≈30 s. The fully reversible, high sensitivity and selectivity characteristics make CsPbBr₃ QDs ideal active materials for room‐temperature ammonia sensing.