Investigation of Reduced Graphene Oxide and a Nb-Doped TiO2 Nanotube Hybrid Structure To Improve the Gas-Sensing Response and Selectivity

Year: 2019

Authors: Galstyan V., Ponzoni A., Kholmanov I., Natile M. M., Comini E., Nematov S., Sberveglieri G.

Autors Affiliation: Sensor Lab, Department of Information Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Valotti 9, 25133 Brescia, Italy;
CNR – National Institute of Optics (INO), Via Branze 45, 25123 Brescia, Italy; Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States; CNR – Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy; The Tashkent State Technical University, Universitetskaya 2, 100069 Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Abstract: The precise detection of flammable and explosive gases and vapors remains an important issue because of the increasing demand for renewable energy sources and safety requirements in industrial processes. Metal oxides (TiO2, SnO2, ZnO, etc.) are very attractive materials for the manufacturing of chemical gas sensors. However, their gas selectivity issues and further improvement in the sensing response remain a significant challenge. The incorporation of metal oxides with two-dimensional (2D) graphene oxide (GO) is considered to be a promising approach to obtaining hybrid structures with improved gas-sensing performance. Herein, we report the development of GO and niobium-doped titanium dioxide nanotube (NT) hybrid structures with a tunable selectivity and sensing response against hydrogen gas, achieved by properly controlling the degree of reduction and concentration of GO. The effects of these parameters are systematically studied in terms of the response amplitude and selectivity. It was found that, compared to undoped titanium dioxide nanotubes, the hybrid material with an optimal concentration of reduced-GO and the introduction of niobium shows an increase in hydrogen response of about an order of magnitude and a simultaneous reduction of the response to possible interfering compounds such as carbon monoxide and acetone, thus providing enhanced selectivity. This research may provide an efficient way to enhance the chemical sensing performance of metal oxide nanomaterials.

Journal/Review: ACS SENSORS

Volume: 4 (8)      Pages from: 2094  to: 2100

KeyWords: doped TiO2, graphene oxide, H2-sensing, hybrid structure, niobium doping, selectivity, thermal reduction
DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.9b00772

Citations: 48
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