Array of Miniaturized Amperometric Gas Sensors Using Atomic Gold Decorated Pt/PANI Electrodes in Room Temperature Ionic Liquid Films

Miniaturized sensors possess many advantages, such as rapid response, easy chip integration, a possible lower concentration of target compound detection, etc. However, a major issue reported is a low signal response. In this study, a catalyst, the atomic gold clusters of Au-n where n = 2, was decorated at a platinum/polyaniline (Pt/PANI) working electrode to enhance the sensitivity of butanol isomers gas measurement. Isomer quantification is challenging because this compound has the same chemical formula and molar mass. Furthermore, to create a tiny sensor, a microliter of room-temperature ionic liquid was used as an electrolyte. The combination of the Au-2 clusters decorated Pt/PANI and room temperature ionic liquid with several fixed electrochemical potentials was explored to obtain a high solubility of each analyte. According to the results, the presence of Au-2 clusters increased the current density due to electrocatalytic activity compared to the electrode without Au-2 clusters. In addition, the Au-2 clusters on the modified electrode had a more linear concentration dependency trend than the modified electrode without atomic gold clusters. Finally, the separation among butanol isomers was enhanced using different combination of room-temperature ionic liquids and fixed potentials.

Automated summary

In this study, atomic gold clusters were decorated on a platinum/polyaniline (Pt/PANI) working electrode to enhance the sensitivity of butanol isomers gas measurement. The presence of Au-2 clusters increased the current density and showed a more linear concentration dependency trend compared to the electrode without Au-2 clusters. Different combinations of room-temperature ionic liquids and fixed potentials were used to enhance the separation among butanol isomers.