Graphene and metal oxides composites: application as toxic gas sensors

Abstract

Modern advances in Science and Technology have improved the quality of human life and health significantly. Nevertheless, these advances also brought several problems. Among them, the need for real-time monitoring of toxic gases is one of the biggest and most alarming problems these days. There is a requirement for simple, sensitive, selective, and stable electronic sensors for either environmental monitoring or industrial applications. Graphene-based materials and nanostructured metal oxides have been pointed out as potential gas sensing materials due to its intrinsic large specific surface area and high electrical conductivity. More recently, nanocomposites have been prepared using graphene and nanostructured metal oxides. These nanocomposites are promising sensing materials because studies have shown they have good sensing properties close to room temperature. Additionally, laser-based techniques have attracted attention due to its great potential for synthesizing high-quality graphene-based devices. This methodology of synthesis have a great potential for mass production due to its rapid speed processing, nanometer spatial resolution and single-step process production that does not uses chemical reagents or high temperature. Within this context, this project proposes to study the sensing properties of nanocomposites fabricated with reduced graphene oxide and In2O3, ZnO e CuAlO2 nanoparticles Also, it is proposed to compare the sensing properties of sensors prepared with reduced graphene oxide obtained by traditional chemical route and by laser-based technique recently published. (AU)