A highly selective electron affinity facilitated H2S sensor: the marriage of tris(keto-hydrazone) and an organic field-effect transistor

Conjugated polymers (CPs) are emerging as part of a promising future for gas-sensing applications. However, some of their limitations, such as poor specificity, humidity sensitivity and poor ambient stability, remain persistent. Herein, a novel combination of a polymermonomer heterostructure, derived from a CP (PDVT-10) and a newly reported monomer [tris(keto-hydrazone)] has been integrated in an organic field-effect transistor (OFET) platform to sense H2S selectively. The hybrid heterostructure shows an unprecedented sensitivity (525% ppm(-1)) and high selectivity toward H2S gas. In addition, we demonstrated that the PDVT-10/tris(keto-hydrazone) OFET sensor has the lowest limit of detection (1 ppb), excellent ambient stability (similar to 5% current degradation after 150 days), good response-recovery behavior, and exceptional electrical behavior and gas response reproducibility. This work can help pave the way to incorporate futuristic gas sensors in a multitude of applications.

Automated summary

The combination of a polymermonomer heterostructure derived from a CP and a newly reported monomer has shown unprecedented sensitivity and high selectivity towards H2S gas, paving the way for futuristic gas sensors in a wide range of applications.