TY - JOUR
T1 - Engineering a surface functionalized Pt@SnS2/ Ti3C2Tx MXene sensor with humidity tolerance and high sensitivity at room temperature for NH3 detection
AU - Ranjith, Kugalur Shanmugam
AU - Sonwal, Sonam
AU - Mohammadi, Ali
AU - Raju, Ganji Seeta Rama
AU - Huh, Yun Suk
AU - Han, Young Kyu
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2025.
PY - 2024/12/18
Y1 - 2024/12/18
N2 - The design of hierarchical heterostructures that can detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at room temperature with good selectivity, sensitivity, and humidity tolerance is an intriguing and practically useful area of research. In this study, Pt@SnS2/MXene with a 0D@2D/2D hybrid structure was successfully fabricated by selectively etching Ti3C2Tx MXene with HF and following this with SnS2 solvothermal growth and finally decorating with Pt nanoparticles. Decoration of few layered vertically grown SnS2 nanoflakes with rich active sites provided an electron reservoir that promoted the selectivity, conductivity, and stability of the MXene-based ternary heterostructure during sensing applications. Post-functionalization with trimethoxypropylsilane (TES) formed a monolayer on the ternary heterostructure of Pt@SnS2/MXene by self-assembly, improved moisture resistance and sensitivity, and maximized sensor durability. Interfacial contact of the TES functionalized mixed metal interface facilitated charge transport and the spectral separation required for NH3 sensing at room temperature (Ra/Rg = 22.7, 10 ppm NH3), which was 14.2, 12.6, 8.1, and 3.3-fold greater higher than those of MXene, SnS2, SnS2/MXene, and Pt@SnS/MXene, respectively. The functionalized heterostructure exhibited high response, remarkable relative response (98.7%), a low theoretical detection limit (23 ppb), and long-term stability (nearly 30 days). Furthermore, TES functionalization protected the sensor from humidity and the sensor sensitivity was ascribed to a Schottky barrier and p–n junction at the Pt@SnS2/MXene heterostructure interface. Superior sensing responses were retained at various humidity levels due to the hydrophobicity of TES alkyl chains. In addition, TES captured free electrons on the sensing surface, and thus, maximized the width of the electron depletion layer. The functionalized Pt@SnS2/MXene heterostructure-based template offers a potential means of constructing highly sensitive and durable gas sensors suitable for practical NH3 responsive, flexible wearable electronics.
AB - The design of hierarchical heterostructures that can detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at room temperature with good selectivity, sensitivity, and humidity tolerance is an intriguing and practically useful area of research. In this study, Pt@SnS2/MXene with a 0D@2D/2D hybrid structure was successfully fabricated by selectively etching Ti3C2Tx MXene with HF and following this with SnS2 solvothermal growth and finally decorating with Pt nanoparticles. Decoration of few layered vertically grown SnS2 nanoflakes with rich active sites provided an electron reservoir that promoted the selectivity, conductivity, and stability of the MXene-based ternary heterostructure during sensing applications. Post-functionalization with trimethoxypropylsilane (TES) formed a monolayer on the ternary heterostructure of Pt@SnS2/MXene by self-assembly, improved moisture resistance and sensitivity, and maximized sensor durability. Interfacial contact of the TES functionalized mixed metal interface facilitated charge transport and the spectral separation required for NH3 sensing at room temperature (Ra/Rg = 22.7, 10 ppm NH3), which was 14.2, 12.6, 8.1, and 3.3-fold greater higher than those of MXene, SnS2, SnS2/MXene, and Pt@SnS/MXene, respectively. The functionalized heterostructure exhibited high response, remarkable relative response (98.7%), a low theoretical detection limit (23 ppb), and long-term stability (nearly 30 days). Furthermore, TES functionalization protected the sensor from humidity and the sensor sensitivity was ascribed to a Schottky barrier and p–n junction at the Pt@SnS2/MXene heterostructure interface. Superior sensing responses were retained at various humidity levels due to the hydrophobicity of TES alkyl chains. In addition, TES captured free electrons on the sensing surface, and thus, maximized the width of the electron depletion layer. The functionalized Pt@SnS2/MXene heterostructure-based template offers a potential means of constructing highly sensitive and durable gas sensors suitable for practical NH3 responsive, flexible wearable electronics.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85212532208&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1039/d4ta07108e
DO - 10.1039/d4ta07108e
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85212532208
SN - 2050-7488
VL - 13
SP - 2950
EP - 2964
JO - Journal of Materials Chemistry A
JF - Journal of Materials Chemistry A
IS - 4
ER -