Interface Growth of PANI-ZnO Nanohybrids on a Self-Formed Grapefruit Peel Aerogel to Construct a Quick Self-Restored Gas Sensor

Abstract

A series of gas sensors based on compound conductive polymers and metal oxides with p−n heterojunctions have received a lot of interest. Also, the gas response is significantly enhanced using three-dimensional (3D) porous structured aerogels as carriers. Here, we report a sustainable and highly sensitive gas sensor based on self-formed grapefruit peel aerogel (GPA) loaded with polyaniline (PANI)-ZnO nanohybrids (PANI-ZnO@GPA). ZnO nanorods are produced in situ on the GPA surface (with a porosity of 93.8%) skeleton, adsorbing PANI nanoparticles (NPs) evenly to construct PANI-ZnO nanohybrids. PANI-ZnO@GPA demonstrates excellent gas sensing behaviors for ethanol, acetic acid, ammonia, and formaldehyde gases and high structural stability with 10% linear compression rebound and steady sensing properties even at 50% compression. It is shown that composite aerogel can successfully detect formaldehyde at the 10−1000 ppm level and with a sensitivity of 0.134% ppm −1 . Furthermore, it is capable of restoring the initial sensing performance after only 3 min of sunlight exposure. This work is expected to provide new ways to expand the sustainable sensors in the rapid and sustainable detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Conductive Polyaniline–Indium Oxide Composite Films Prepared by Sequential Infiltration Synthesis for Electrochemical Energy Storage

“…20 While PANI−oxide composite films prepared via different methods have been reported to present improved mechanical, thermal, and electrochemical properties, 5−7 composite films prepared via SIS have rarely been explored. 21 Herein, we present SIS as a facile synthetic route for preparing PANI−InO x composite films. The films exhibited an enhanced electrical conductivity of 4−9 S/cm after annealing in a reducing atmosphere.…”

“…One of the main goals of the previous works was to increase the electrical conductivities of the doped PANI or PANI–oxide composite films to levels comparable to those of PANI doped with HCl via conventional solution processes . While PANI–oxide composite films prepared via different methods have been reported to present improved mechanical, thermal, and electrochemical properties, − composite films prepared via SIS have rarely been explored …”

Nb/Starch-Doped ZnO Nanostructures for Polluted Water Treatment and Antimicrobial Applications: Molecular Docking Analysis

“…It constitutes large free-exciton binding energy (60 meV), powerful oxidizing ability, direct/wider band gap ( E g ) 3.37 eV in near-UV spectra region, and excellent photocatalytic activity. ZnO is utilized in ceramic bodies, catalysis, polymer and paint factories, pesticides, and beauty products as an essential semiconductor material due to faster response times, lower detection limits, and more stable sensing signals . As ZnO and TiO 2 have similar band-gap energies, their photocatalytic capacity should be comparable.…”

“…ZnO is utilized in ceramic bodies, catalysis, polymer and paint factories, pesticides, and beauty products as an essential semiconductor material due to faster response times, lower detection limits, and more stable sensing signals. 5 As ZnO and TiO 2 have similar band-gap energies, their photocatalytic capacity should be comparable. Furthermore, TiO 2 is more expensive than ZnO, which makes TiO 2 unsuitable for large-scale water treatment processes.…”

Sensitive Organic Vapor Sensors Based on Flexible Porous Conductive Composites with Multilevel Pores and Thin, Rough, Hollow-Wall Structure

“…Due to the weak strength and limited thickness of CPC films, the development of new generations of high-performance gas sensors has reached a bottleneck. Comparatively, robust three dimensional (3D) porous conductive materials, with their large surface area and abundant pore structure, have great potential in gas sensing [24,[28][29][30][31].…”