Application of flame-formed carbon nanoparticle films for ethanol sensing (Open Access) --颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Darvehi, P., Basta, L., Commodo, M., Minutolo, P., & D'Anna, A. (2024). Application of flame-formed carbon nanoparticle films for ethanol sensing. Particuology, 91, 202-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2024.03.004

Application of flame-formed carbon nanoparticle films for ethanol sensing (Open Access)

Pegah Darvehi^{a 1}, Luca Basta^{b 1}, Mario Commodo^a *, Patrizia Minutolo^a *, Andrea D'Anna^b

a Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie per l’Energia e la Mobilità Sostenibili, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, P. le Tecchio 80, 80125, Napoli, Italy
b Dipartimento di Ingegneria Chimica, dei Materiali e della Produzione Industriale, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, P.le Tecchio 80, 80125, Napoli, Italy

10.1016/j.partic.2024.03.004

Volume 91, August 2024, Pages 202-210

Received 27 November 2023, Revised 17 March 2024, Accepted 18 March 2024, Available online 26 March 2024, Version of Record 3 April 2024.

E-mail: mario.commodo@stems.cnr.it; patrizia.minutolo@stems.cnr.it

Highlights

• A thin film of flame-formed carbon nanoparticles has been produced by a direct one-step method.

• Film morphology and optical and electrical properties were characterized by AFM, UV–Vis spectroscopy and I–V measurements.

• The film was demonstrated to be an active layer for ethanol sensors.

• The sensors showed a rapid response and recovery time toward 0.3%–2.9% of ethanol concentration.

Abstract

Carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) have received considerable attention due to their exceptional qualities and adaptability. Their unique physical and chemical characteristics make them extremely intriguing as materials for numerous high-potential applications, such as electronics and gas sensing. This study focused on producing carbon-based nanomaterial devices by deposition of flame-formed carbon nanoparticles on a suitable substrate and investigating their gas-sensing properties. CNPs were produced in a fuel-rich laminar premixed ethylene/air flame and the collected CNP film was morphologically and electrically characterized. The electrical conductivity of the film was investigated as a function of ethanol concentration and amount of deposited material. Notably, CNP films exhibited high sensitivity to ambient ethanol gas concentrations, and rapid recovery times at room temperature, and showed a sensitivity increasing with the amount of deposited material and the surface complexity. Our findings demonstrate the high potential of combustion-generated CNPs as building materials for low-cost and portable ethanol sensors.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Flame synthesis; Carbon nanoparticles; Soot; Nanostructured thin film; Optical and electrical characterization; Atomic force microscopy; Sensors

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