Holey Carbon Nanohorns-Based Nanohybrid as Sensing Layer for Resistive Ethanol Sensor

The study presents the ethanol vapor sensing performance of a resistive sensor that utilizes a quaternary nanohybrid sensing layer composed of holey carbon nanohorns (CNHox), graphene oxide (GO), SnO<sub>2</sub>, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in an equal mass ratio of 1:1:1:1 (<i>...

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Main Authors: Bogdan-Catalin Serban, Niculae Dumbravescu, Octavian Buiu, Marius Bumbac, Mihai Brezeanu, Cristina Pachiu, Cristina-Mihaela Nicolescu, Oana Brancoveanu, Cornel Cobianu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Sensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1299
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author Bogdan-Catalin Serban
Niculae Dumbravescu
Octavian Buiu
Marius Bumbac
Mihai Brezeanu
Cristina Pachiu
Cristina-Mihaela Nicolescu
Oana Brancoveanu
Cornel Cobianu
author_facet Bogdan-Catalin Serban
Niculae Dumbravescu
Octavian Buiu
Marius Bumbac
Mihai Brezeanu
Cristina Pachiu
Cristina-Mihaela Nicolescu
Oana Brancoveanu
Cornel Cobianu
author_sort Bogdan-Catalin Serban
collection DOAJ
description The study presents the ethanol vapor sensing performance of a resistive sensor that utilizes a quaternary nanohybrid sensing layer composed of holey carbon nanohorns (CNHox), graphene oxide (GO), SnO<sub>2</sub>, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in an equal mass ratio of 1:1:1:1 (<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>). The sensing device includes a flexible polyimide substrate and interdigital transducer (IDT)-like electrodes. The sensing film is deposited by drop-casting on the sensing structure. The morphology and composition of the sensitive film are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) Spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The manufactured resistive device presents good sensitivity to concentrations of alcohol vapors varying in the range of 0.008–0.16 mg/cm<sup>3</sup>. The resistance of the proposed sensing structure increases over the entire range of measured ethanol concentration. Different types of sensing mechanisms are recognized. The decrease in the hole concentration in CNHox, GO, and CNHox due to the interaction with ethanol vapors, which act as electron donors, and the swelling of the PVP are plausible and seem to be the prevalent sensing pathway. The hard–soft acid-base (HSAB) principle strengthens our analysis.
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issn 1424-8220
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publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Sensors
spelling doaj-art-256909a40cf04500bf4ef6a3aed5696c2025-08-20T02:52:45ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-02-01255129910.3390/s25051299Holey Carbon Nanohorns-Based Nanohybrid as Sensing Layer for Resistive Ethanol SensorBogdan-Catalin Serban0Niculae Dumbravescu1Octavian Buiu2Marius Bumbac3Mihai Brezeanu4Cristina Pachiu5Cristina-Mihaela Nicolescu6Oana Brancoveanu7Cornel Cobianu8National Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies, IMT-Bucharest, 126 A Str. Erou Iancu Nicolae, 077190 Voluntari, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies, IMT-Bucharest, 126 A Str. Erou Iancu Nicolae, 077190 Voluntari, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies, IMT-Bucharest, 126 A Str. Erou Iancu Nicolae, 077190 Voluntari, RomaniaSciences and Advanced Technologies Department, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Valahia University of Târgoviște, Aleea Sinaia, nr 13, 130004 Târgoviște, RomaniaFaculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and IT, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Bd Iuliu Maniu 1-3, 061071 Bucharest, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies, IMT-Bucharest, 126 A Str. Erou Iancu Nicolae, 077190 Voluntari, RomaniaInstitute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science Technology, Valahia University of Târgoviște, Aleea Sinaia, nr 13, 130004 Târgoviște, RomaniaNational Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies, IMT-Bucharest, 126 A Str. Erou Iancu Nicolae, 077190 Voluntari, RomaniaAcademy of Romanian Scientists (ARS), Str. Ilfov Nr. 3, Sector 5, 050044 Bucharest, RomaniaThe study presents the ethanol vapor sensing performance of a resistive sensor that utilizes a quaternary nanohybrid sensing layer composed of holey carbon nanohorns (CNHox), graphene oxide (GO), SnO<sub>2</sub>, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in an equal mass ratio of 1:1:1:1 (<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>). The sensing device includes a flexible polyimide substrate and interdigital transducer (IDT)-like electrodes. The sensing film is deposited by drop-casting on the sensing structure. The morphology and composition of the sensitive film are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) Spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The manufactured resistive device presents good sensitivity to concentrations of alcohol vapors varying in the range of 0.008–0.16 mg/cm<sup>3</sup>. The resistance of the proposed sensing structure increases over the entire range of measured ethanol concentration. Different types of sensing mechanisms are recognized. The decrease in the hole concentration in CNHox, GO, and CNHox due to the interaction with ethanol vapors, which act as electron donors, and the swelling of the PVP are plausible and seem to be the prevalent sensing pathway. The hard–soft acid-base (HSAB) principle strengthens our analysis.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1299ethanol sensorholey carbon nanohornsgraphene oxideswellingHSAB principle
spellingShingle Bogdan-Catalin Serban
Niculae Dumbravescu
Octavian Buiu
Marius Bumbac
Mihai Brezeanu
Cristina Pachiu
Cristina-Mihaela Nicolescu
Oana Brancoveanu
Cornel Cobianu
Holey Carbon Nanohorns-Based Nanohybrid as Sensing Layer for Resistive Ethanol Sensor
Sensors
ethanol sensor
holey carbon nanohorns
graphene oxide
swelling
HSAB principle
title Holey Carbon Nanohorns-Based Nanohybrid as Sensing Layer for Resistive Ethanol Sensor
title_full Holey Carbon Nanohorns-Based Nanohybrid as Sensing Layer for Resistive Ethanol Sensor
title_fullStr Holey Carbon Nanohorns-Based Nanohybrid as Sensing Layer for Resistive Ethanol Sensor
title_full_unstemmed Holey Carbon Nanohorns-Based Nanohybrid as Sensing Layer for Resistive Ethanol Sensor
title_short Holey Carbon Nanohorns-Based Nanohybrid as Sensing Layer for Resistive Ethanol Sensor
title_sort holey carbon nanohorns based nanohybrid as sensing layer for resistive ethanol sensor
topic ethanol sensor
holey carbon nanohorns
graphene oxide
swelling
HSAB principle
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1299
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AT octavianbuiu holeycarbonnanohornsbasednanohybridassensinglayerforresistiveethanolsensor
AT mariusbumbac holeycarbonnanohornsbasednanohybridassensinglayerforresistiveethanolsensor
AT mihaibrezeanu holeycarbonnanohornsbasednanohybridassensinglayerforresistiveethanolsensor
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