One-Step Fabrication of Pyranine Modified- Reduced Graphene Oxide with Ultrafast and Ultrahigh Humidity Response

Ahmad Umar,Yao Wang,Peng Xie,Guofu Zhou,Zhuo Chen,Ying Shang,Qi Qi

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-02983-8

Ahmad Umar, Yao Wang + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-02983-8

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Abstract

A facile one-step supramolecular assembly method is adopted to modify reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with functional organic molecule pyranine for achieving comprehensive humidity sensing performance. The fabricated humidity sensor based on pyranine modified-reduced graphene oxide (Pyr-rGO) exhibits excellent sensing performance with ultrafast (<2 s) and ultrahigh response of IL/IH = 6000 as relative humidity (RH) consecutively changes between 11% and 95%; small hysteresis of 8% RH; reliable repeatability and stability. In addition, a detailed mechanism analysis is performed to investigate the difference in water adsorption and ions transfer under various RH levels. Notably, the one-step supramolecular assembly method to prepare Pyr-rGO provides a new insight into developing novel functional humidity sensing materials with enhanced device performance.

Highlights

Covalent chemical modification of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is widely used and the sensing properties can be enhanced prominently, but usually a complex reaction process is required and the instinct structure and electrical properties of rGO will be damaged to some degree
We present a facile one-step supramolecular assembly method to modify rGO with functional organic molecule pyranine to form pyranine modified- reduced graphene oxide (Pyr-rGO) for achieving high performance humidity sensing materials
The enhancement in dispersibility and stability of Pyr-rGO dispersion can be attributed to the pyranine molecules by supramolecular assembly

Summary

Introduction

Covalent chemical modification of rGO is widely used and the sensing properties can be enhanced prominently, but usually a complex reaction process is required and the instinct structure and electrical properties of rGO will be damaged to some degree. Supramolecular assembly modification allows more possibilities for functional “guests” such as inorganic ions, organic molecules or nanoparticles[17, 18], which can be specific to enhance the dispersibility or humidity sensing performance of the as-prepared material. We present a facile one-step supramolecular assembly method to modify rGO with functional organic molecule pyranine to form pyranine modified- reduced graphene oxide (Pyr-rGO) for achieving high performance humidity sensing materials. It is worthy to mention that the one-step supramolecular assembly method has the potential for facilely preparing the novel functional materials with enhanced humidity sensing performance

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