Flexible MXene/rGO/CuO hybrid aerogels for high performance acetone sensing at room temperature

The design and construction of high-performance room temperature gas-sensing materials have attracted great attention in the field of current gas sensor technology. Herein, we report an efficient approach for the production of ultrafine CuO nanoparticles-decorated three-dimensional (3D) hybrid aerogel by employing MXene (Ti3C2Tx) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets as cobuilding blocks. Benefiting from the synergistic effects of highly interconnected porous networks, large specific surface areas, homogeneous CuO nanoparticles dispersion, and good electron conductivity, the resulting 3D MXene/rGO/CuO aerogel expresses high acetone-sensing performance at room temperature (RT). The sensor response toward 100 ppm acetone is 52.09 % at RT with the fast response time (-6.5 s) and recovery time (-7.5 s), excellent reproducibility and selectivity. The strategy of compositing 3D graphene/MXene architectures with metal oxide semiconductor provides a novel pathway for the future development of RT gas sensors.

Automated summary

In this study, a high-performance room temperature gas-sensing material was successfully developed by utilizing MXene and reduced graphene oxide as building blocks. The resulting 3D aerogel shows excellent acetone-sensing performance at room temperature, with fast response and recovery times, as well as good reproducibility and selectivity. This strategy of composite 3D graphene/MXene architectures with metal oxide semiconductors provides a new pathway for future development of room temperature gas sensors.