Development and characterization of composite carbon nanofibers surface-coated with ZnO/Ag nanoparticle arrays for ammonia sensor application

Abstract

This research intended to develop an ultra-fast sensor for detecting ammonia blended with water at room temperature, based on nonwoven carbon nanowires (CNWs). Indicated to individual characterizations of fabricated CNWs loaded by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and zinc oxide nanorods (ZnONr), the output resistance of nanowires sensors has a proportional relation with ammonia concentrations. The carbon nanowire sensor based on AgNPs and ZnONr possessed an ammonia sensing response with a concentration of 0.01 to 1 M when blended with deionized water. Meanwhile, the fabricated nanowire sensor also had a fast response to recovery time 8-10 s for ammonia solutions, which was the excellent assign to satisfactory selectivity, long-term stability, and quick response. The results not only provided an effective technique for the in-situ loading of the AgNPs and ZnONr into the fabricated carbon nanofibers (CNF) but also significantly broaden the applicability of designed sensor nanowires for ammonia sensing at the room temperature with excellent selectivity and fast response/recovery time.