Environmental gas sensing studies using flower-like MoS2 hybrid structure

Abstract

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is one of the most potent transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDc) material for gas sensing applications due to its various advantageous properties. It exhibits modest electron mobilities, reduced dimensionality, and favorable mechanical properties. The deposition of metal nanoparticles on nanostructured MoS2 leads to the modification in their sensing properties. By keeping in view, present work reports the fabrication of stable MoS2 nanoflowers (MNF) and their hybrids (Au-MoS2 nanoflowers). The hydrothermal approach was used to synthesize MNF nanostructures and in order to form the hybrid Au-MoS2 nanoflower (AuMNF) Au nanoparticle were deposited over MNF by an inert gas evaporation method. X-ray Diffraction and micro–Raman spectroscopy were used to study MNF and AuMNF hybrid structures. XRD found MoS2 1 T-2H mixed-phase. The peak shift and broadening in E1g, J3, and E3g modes for AuMNF hybrids was observed compared to MNF. The flower-like morphology of the pristine and hybrid nanostructures was confirmed via the Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the fabricated samples MNF and AuMNF hybrids were investigated for environmental gas sensing. According to the results of the gas sensing tests, the AuMNF hybrid provides the best sensing response. The gas sensing measurements revealed that the best sensing response is found from the AuMNF hybrid. This hybrid shows a response of 21.2 % in the presence of CO, which is 5.5 times higher than the response of pure MoS2. These findings contribute to a better interpretation of how the resistance of MoS2 nanostructures reacts towards CO gas exposure. These findings contribute to a better interpretation of how the resistance of MoS2 nanostructures reacts towards CO gas exposure.