Abstract
A simple and hands-on one-step process has been implemented to fabricate polymer-templated hydrophobic nanostructures as hydrogen gas sensing platforms. Topographic measurements have confirmed irregular hills and dips of various dimensions that are responsible for creating air bubble pockets that satisfy the Cassie–Baxter state of hydrophobicity. High-resolution field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) has revealed double-layer structures consisting of fine microscopic flower-like structures of nanoscale petals on the top of base nanostructures. Wetting contact angle (WCA) measurements further revealed the contact angle to be ~142.0° ± 10.0°. Such hydrophobic nanostructures were expected to provide a platform for gas-sensing materials of a higher surface area. From this direction, a very thin layer of palladium, ca. 100 nm of thickness, was sputtered. Thereafter, further topographic and WCA measurements were carried out. FESEM micrographs revealed that microscopic flower-like structures of nanoscale petals remained intact. A sessile drop test reconfirmed a WCA of as high as ~130.0° ± 10.0°. Due to the inherent features of hydrophobic nanostructures, a wider surface area was expected that can be useful for higher target gas adsorption sites. In this context, a customized sensing facility was set up, and H2 gas sensing performance was carried out. The surface nanostructures were found to be very stable and durable over the course of a year and beyond. A polymer-based hydrophobic gas-sensing platform as investigated in this study will play a dual role in hydrophobicity as well as superior gas-sensing characteristics.
Highlights
Gas sensing, hydrogen (H2 ) gas sensing, has become very crucial due to its renascence as a new and alternative energy in modern life [1,2,3]
Is an efficient and sensitive sensing platform urgently needed for the safe deployment of all H2 -based applications, and multifunctional capabilities are required to deal with extreme and critical environmental conditions
Zoom-in views as marked by a black dashed rectangle in Figure 2b,c were shown in inset (i) and inset (ii) of Figure 2a, respectively
Summary
Hydrogen (H2 ) gas sensing, has become very crucial due to its renascence as a new and alternative energy in modern life [1,2,3]. H2 is an important energy carrier that is going to be complementary to current electricity very soon [4,5]. A persistence challenge is being carried out to incorporate H2 as fuel for “zero-emissions” vehicles, to heat accommodations and workplaces and fuel aircrafts, amongst many other applications [6,7,8]. Most H2 gas sensors, used in industries and workplaces, are not suitable for advanced and sophisticated applications. The sensor needs to be smart, durable and of multitasking capacity [9,10,11]
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