Fabrication of SnO2 Composite Nanofiber-Based Gas Sensor Using the Electrospinning Method for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Detection

Abstract

This paper presents the development of a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensor for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are of great importance in many applications involving either control of hazardous chemicals or noninvasive diagnosis. In this study, the sensor is fabricated based on tin dioxide (SnO2) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) using electrospinning. The sensitivity of the proposed sensor is further improved by calcination and gold doping. The gold doping of composite nanofibers is achieved using sputtering, and the calcination is performed using a high-temperature oven. The performance of the sensor with different doping thicknesses and different calcination temperatures is investigated to identify the optimum fabrication parameters resulting in high sensitivity. The optimum calcination temperature and duration are found to be 350 °C and 4 h, respectively and the optimum thickness of the gold dopant is found to be 10 nm. The sensor with the optimum fabrication process is then embedded in a microchannel coated with several metallic and polymeric layers. The performance of the sensor is compared with that of a commercial sensor. The comparison is performed for methanol and a mixture of methanol and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis. It is shown that the proposed sensor outperforms the commercial sensor when it is embedded inside the channel.

Overall perspective of electrospun semiconductor metal oxides as high-performance gas sensor materials for NOx detection

“…5,24 Sensing layers containing nanorods and nanosheets require extensive processes such as high temperatures or special equipment for fabrication, while nanoparticles and nanobers require relatively simple processes such as electrospinning. 80 As Metal oxides are not directly spinnable, they need to rely on the use of precursor solutions. 81 The size of the nanograins can be manipulated and changed according to the desired applications of the nanobers by controlling the heat treatment conditions of heating temperature, heating time, heating and cooling rate.…”

A Recent Review of Electrospun Porous Carbon Nanofiber Mats for Energy Storage and Generation Applications

“…Mehrabi et al have fabricated nanofibers based on tin dioxide and poly(ethylene oxide) by electrospinning and improved them by calcination and gold doping. The electrospun composite nanofibers were investigated with different doping thicknesses and different calcination temperatures to determine the optimal fabrication parameters leading to high sensitivity [151]. Liu et al fabricated nanofibers based on oriented polypyrrole (PPy)-coated polyacrylonitrile nanofiber yarn using an electrospinning technique.…”

Research progress, models and simulation of electrospinning technology: a review

“…Cancer cells can also be diagnosed by detecting the oxygen concentration [ 437 , 438 ]. Using tin dioxide and PEO as raw materials, Mehrabi et al [ 439 ] developed a sensor for methanol and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) by electrospinning, which can recognize smokers. Fluorescent chemical sensors are mainly used to detect amines in solution [ 440 ].…”