Development of an ALD-Pt@SWCNT/Graphene 3D Nanohybrid Architecture for Hydrogen Sensing

Abstract

A nanohybrid architecture composed of single-wall carbon nanotube films and graphene heterostructures (SWCNT/ graphene) was developed as a three-dimensional (3D) electrode. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) was used for conformal coating of catalytic Pt nanoparticles on the 3D ALD-Pt@SWCNT/graphene nanohybrid architecture for further enhancement of H 2 sensing, taking advantage of the large sensing area and conformally coated nanostructures of the catalytic Pt. Remarkably, the H 2 response was found to be improved by 50% in the SWCNT/graphene nanohybrid, indicating that graphene provides a more efficient charge transport. The ALD-Pt further enhances the H 2 responsivity of the 3D ALD-Pt @SWCNT/graphene nanohybrids. By coating 10 cycles of ALD-Pt on the SWCNT/graphene nanohybrid, the H 2 response (2.77%) is approximately twice that (1.4%) of its counterpart without the ALD-Pt. By further optimizing the 3D ALD-Pt@ SWCNT/graphene nanohybrids with respect to the ALD-Pt cycle numbers and SWCNT film thickness, a H 2 responsivity as high as 7.5% was achieved on the SWCNT/graphene nanohybrid sample with a 560 nm thick SWCNT film and 50 cycles of ALD-Pt.

Probing the role of CNTs in Pt nanoparticle/CNT/graphene nanohybrids H2 sensors

“…Therefore, H 2 sensors consisting of a CNT film/graphene heterostructure 3D electrode decorated with catalytic Pt nanoparticles using atomic layer deposition (Pt-NPs/CNTs/Gr) combine the advantages of large effective sensing surface area of CNT films, the catalytic benefit of the conformally coated Pt-NPs, and high mobility signal transport through CNT/Gr 3D electrode. On the Pt-NP/ SWCNT/Gr H 2 sensors, enhanced H 2 sensitivity by more than 50% of magnitude has been observed as compared to their counterparts without Gr [12]. This result has revealed the critical importance of engineering the signal transfer on the 3D CNT/Gr electrodes while raises a question on whether SWCNT films are optimal for charge transfer.…”

“…In a recent work [12], we have developed a 3D electrode architecture consisting of single-wall CNTs on graphene (SWCNT/Gr). The implementation of Gr of high charge mobility at room temperature [13,14] has been found to effectively improve charge (signal) transfer by directing the charges from SWCNTs to electrodes through Gr, instead of through multiple CNT-CNT junctions to electrodes, which present hurdles to charge transfer in CNT only sensors.…”

Графен/Нанотрубные Квази-1d-Структуры В Сильных Электрических Полях

“…Гибридные структуры с вертикально ориентированным УНТ, называемые в ряде случаев " колонным графеном", находят свое применение при создании электродов аккумуляторных батарей [22], элементов фононных устройств [23] и наномеханических сенсоров [24], а также в качестве газоразделительной мембраны [25] и материалов теплового интерфейса [26]. На основе гибридных структур графен/УНТ с горизонтально ориентированными нанотрубками разрабатываются высокочувствительные фотодетекторы [27], датчики влажности [28], газовые сенсоры [29], литий-ионные батареи [30] и суперконденсаторы [31].…”

Recent Advances in Ammonia Gas Sensors Based on Carbon Nanomaterials

“…Then, the research on graphene and related materials accelerated toward the application of these materials in gas sensing [ 26 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 ]. The creation of nanohybrid architecture sensors [ 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 ], combining carbon nanomaterials with various compounds and materials, made it possible to enhance the sensing behavior.…”