Gas sensor based on p-phenylenediamine reduced graphene oxide

We present a useful gas sensor based on chemically reduced graphene oxide (CRG) by drop drying method to create conductive networks between interdigitated electrode arrays. CRG, which is formed from the reduction of graphene oxide by p-phenylenediamine (PPD), can be used as an excellent sensing material. Its efficient dispersion in organic solvents (i.e., ethanol) benefits the formation of conductive circuits between electrode arrays through drop drying method. Preliminary results, which have been presented on the detection of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) using this simple and scalable fabrication method for practical devices, suggest that PPD reduced CRG exhibits much better (5.7 times with the concentration of DMMP at 30 ppm) response to DMMP than that of CRG reduced from hydrazine. Furthermore, this novel gas sensor based on CRG reduced from PPD shows excellent responsive repeatability to DMMP. Overall, the efficient dispersibility of CRG reduced from PPD in organic solvents facilitates the device fabrication through drop drying method, the resultant CRG-basecl sensing devices, with miniature, low cost, portable characteristics, as well as outstanding sensing performances, can ensure its potential application in gas sensing fields. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.