Recent Advances of Graphene Quantum Dots in Chemiresistive Gas Sensors

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), as 0D graphene nanomaterials, have aroused increasing interest in chemiresistive gas sensors owing to their remarkable physicochemical properties and tunable electronic structures. Research on GQDs has been booming over the past decades, and a number of excellent review articles have been provided on various other sensing principles of GQDs, such as fluorescence-based ion-sensing, bio-sensing, bio-imaging, and electrochemical, photoelectrochemical, and electrochemiluminescence sensing, and therapeutic, energy and catalysis applications. However, so far, there is no single review article on the application of GQDs in the field of chemiresistive gas sensing. This is our primary inspiration for writing this review, with a focus on the chemiresistive gas sensors reported using GQD-based composites. In this review, the various synthesized strategies of GQDs and its composites, gas sensing enhancement mechanisms, and the resulting sensing characteristics are presented. Finally, the current challenges and future prospects of GQDs in the abovementioned application filed have been discussed for the more rational design of advanced GQDs-based gas-sensing materials and innovative gas sensors with novel functionalities.

Automated summary

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have attracted increasing interest in chemiresistive gas sensors due to their unique physical and chemical properties. While several review articles have covered the various sensing principles and applications of GQDs, there is currently no single review article focusing on their application in chemiresistive gas sensing. Therefore, this review presents the progress and challenges of GQD-based composites in chemiresistive gas sensors, including the synthesis strategies, gas sensing enhancement mechanisms, and resulting sensing characteristics. The discussion also highlights the future prospects for the rational design of advanced GQDs-based gas-sensing materials and innovative gas sensors with novel functionalities.