We report a highly sensitive NO2 gas sensor based on multi-layer graphene (MLG) films synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition method on a microheater-embedded flexible substrate. The MLG could detect low-concentration NO2 even at sub-ppm (<200 ppb) levels. It also exhibited a high resistance change of ~6% when it was exposed to 1 ppm NO2 gas at room temperature for 1 min. The exceptionally high sensitivity could be attributed to the large number of NO2 molecule adsorption sites on the MLG due to its a large surface area and various defect-sites, and to the high mobility of carriers transferred between the MLG films and the adsorbed gas molecules. Although desorption of the NO2 molecules was slow, it could be enhanced by an additional annealing process using an embedded Au microheater. The outstanding mechanical flexibility of the graphene film ensures the stable sensing response of the device under extreme bending stress. Our large-scale and easily reproducible MLG films can provide a proof-of-concept for future flexible NO2 gas sensor devices.

Carbazole, EDOT 와 benzobisthiazole이 포함되어진 새로운 전도성 고분자의 합성 및 특징을 유기 분광학적인 방법으로 규명하였다. 포텐티오메트릭 이온 선택성 막 전극들은 넒은 감응범위(104~107)와, 시료의 혼탁도에 영향을 주지 않으며, 빠른 감응 시간과 소형화가 쉬운 이유로 병원, 환경과 산업 현장에서 널리 이용되고 있다. 이 전극의 막에는 강한 흡착과 열적인 안정성에서 뛰어난 상온에서 경화시킨 (RTV)-타입 실리콘 고무가 사용되었다. 불행하게도, 이 실리콘 고무 기반의 전극의 높은 막 저항(PVC 기반의 것과 비교하여 102~103배 더 높은 수치)이 응용에 제한이 되어 왔다. 여기에서 우리는 실리콘 고무 막에 전도성 고분자를 첨가 하여 막 저항이 줄어든 새로운 고체 전극을 구현하였다.

A novel electrode for an NO gas sensor was fabricated from electrospun polyacrylonitrile fibers by thermal treatment to obtain carbon fibers followed by chemical activation to enhance the activity of gas adsorption sites. The activation process improved the porous structure, increasing the specific surface area and allowing for efficient gas adsorption. The gas sensing ability and response time were improved by the increased surface area and micropore fraction. High performance gas sensing was then demonstrated by following a proposed mechanism based on the activation effects. Initially, the pore structure developed by activation significantly increased the amount of adsorbed gas, as shown by the high sensitivity of the gas sensor. Additionally, the increased micropore fraction enabled a rapid sensor response time due to improve the adsorption speed. Overall, the sensitivity for NO gas was improved approximately six-fold, and the response time was reduced by approximately 83% due to the effects of chemical activation.