Dielectrophoretic assembly of Pt nanoparticle-reduced graphene oxide nanohybrid for highly-sensitive multiple gas sensor

Abstract

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) gas sensors functionalized with platinum (Pt) nanoparticles were fabricated. An alternating current dielectrophoresis technique was used for the precise alignment of the Pt-GO nanohybrid between microgap electrodes, proceeded by the mid-temperature thermal annealing. The gas sensing response was determined for the assembled rGO nanostructure-based devices with and without Pt decoration at various ambient temperature and gas concentrations. The tested device exhibited sensitivities of 14% (7%), 8% (5%), and 10% (8%), for 1000 ppm hydrogen, ammonia, and nitric oxide gases, respectively with ( without) Pt nanoparticles, at room temperature. The Pt-decorated samples show an improvement of 100%, 60% and 25% to hydrogen, ammonia, and nitric oxide gases, respectively, over without Pt decorated sensors. Besides, improving the sensitivity, the dielectrophoresis assembled rGO-Pt nanohybrid sensors have been demonstrated as a viable material for multiple gas sensors. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.