Low-cost reduced graphene oxide-based conductometric nitrogen dioxide-sensitive sensor on paper

• Published in: Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry 2013-04, Vol.405 (11), p.3611-3617
• Main Authors: Hassinen, Jukka, Kauppila, Jussi, Leiro, Jarkko, Määttänen, Anni, Ihalainen, Petri, Peltonen, Jouko, Lukkari, Jukka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical Chemistry; Biochemistry; Capacitance; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical detectors; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Conductometric analysis; Devices; Equipment and supplies; Fabrication; Flakes; Food Science; Graphene; Irradiation; Laboratory Medicine; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nitrogen dioxide; Original Paper; Outdoor air quality; Oxides; Production processes; Sensors; Ultraviolet radiation; Urban areas
• ISSN: 1618-2642; 1618-2650
• DOI: 10.1007/s00216-013-6805-5

The fabrication concept for a low-cost sensor device using reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as the sensing material on a porous paper substrate is presented. The sensors were characterized using conductivity and capacitance measurements, atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The effects of different reducing agents, graphene oxide (GO) flake size and film thickness were studied. The sensor was sensitive to NO 2 , and devices based on a thin (10-nm) hydrazine-reduced GO layer had the best sensitivity, reaching a 70 % reduction in resistance after 10 min of exposure to 10 ppm NO 2 . The sensitivity was high enough for the detection of sub-parts per million levels of NO 2 . Desorption of gas molecules, i.e. the recovery of the sensor, could be accelerated by UV irradiation. The structure and preparation of the sensor are simple and up-scalable, allowing their fabrication in bulk quantities, and the fabrication concept can be applied to other materials, too. Figure Low‐cost reduced graphene oxide based conductometric nitrogen dioxide sensitive sensor on paper