Skip to main content

Main navigation

  • About ITEFI
  • Research
  • Formación y empleo
  • OpenLab
  • Servicios científico técnicos
  • Staff Directory

Beyond conventional characterization: Defect engineering role for sensitivity and selectivity of room-temperature UV-assisted graphene-based NO₂ sensors

Álvaro Peña, Jesús López-Sánchez, Leandro Sacco, Sten Vollebregt, Jorge Marqués-Marchán, M. Carmen Horrillo, Pilar Marín, Daniel Matatagui
Talanta, Volume 286, 127507, 2025
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2024.127507

The term graphene-based gas sensors may be too broad, as there are many physicochemical differences within the graphene-based materials (GBM) used for chemiresistive gas sensors. These differences condition the sensitivity, selectivity, recovery, and ultimately the sensing performance of these devices towards air pollutants. Continuous ultraviolet irradiation aids in the desorption of gas molecules and enhances sensor performance. Under these conditions, the devices from this work can reliably monitor NO2 and CO at room temperature, below the human-recommended exposure limits, presenting NO2 LoD down to ∼20 ppb. By selecting GBMs with different levels of defectivity, which influence gas adsorption dynamics, and through comprehensive characterization, including D, D′, D″, 2D, and G Raman bands, graphene-based gas sensors can be tailored to meet specific sensing requirements. This study examines five different non-oxidized GBM to develop tools and gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between GBM properties and their sensing performance. This research introduces a new standard for defect assessment, moving beyond graphene's D and G Raman band intensity ratio, to facilitate the successful integration of graphene-based gas sensors into everyday applications, such as environmental monitoring and industrial safety, and potentially impacting other 2D materials, thereby reducing health risks associated with air pollution.

Author A. P. received funding from grant PRE2019-0875001234, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN), Spain. Authors A. P., D. M., P. M., and M-C. H. received funding from project PDC2022-133039-I00 and PID2021-123112OB-C21 from MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, Spain and European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR. D. M. acknowledges financial support from grant RYC2021-031166-I funded by MCIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. J. L.-S. acknowledges the financial support from PID2023-151036OA-I00.

SENSAVAN
Acoustics and Non Destructive Evaluation (DAEND)
  • Environmental Acoustics (GAA)
  • G Carma: Materials Characterization by Non Destructive Evaluation
  • ULAB, Ultrasounds for Liquid Analysis and Bioengineering
Information and Communication Technologies (TIC)
  • Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection Research Group (GiCP)
  • Research group on Cryptology and Information Security (GiCSI)
    • Quantum Communications Laboratory (LCQE)
  • Multichannel Ultrasonic Signal Processing Group (MUSP)
Sensors and Ultrasonic Systems (DSSU)
  • Ultrasonic Systems and Technologies (USTG)
  • Nanosensors and Smart Systems (NoySi)
  • Ultrasonic Resonators for cavitation and micromanipulation (RESULT)
  • Advanced Sensor Technology (SENSAVAN)
  • Quantum Electronics (QE)
Laboratorios
  • Laboratorio de Acústica
  • Laboratorio de Metrología Ultrasónica Médica (LMUM)
  • Laboratorio de Comunicaciones Cuánticas
  • Laboratory for International Collaboration in Advanced Biophotonics Imaging

Instituto de Tecnologías Físicas y de la Información Leonardo Torres Quevedo  - ITEFI
C/ Serrano, 144. 28006 - Madrid • Tel.: (+34) 91 561 88 06  Contacto  •  Intranet
EDIFICIO PARCIALMENTE ACCESIBLE POR PERSONAS CON MOVILIDAD REDUCIDA