Reduced Graphene Oxide-Wrapped Palladium Nanowires Coated with a Layer of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 for Hydrogen Sensing

Abstract

Rapid and sensitive H2 detection is important because of its low threshold for the formation of explosive mixtures in air (∼4%). Palladium’s unique interactions with H2 make it particularly useful in room-temperature H2 sensing, but the formation of water by reaction with O2 at the Pd surface can interfere with sensor response. Here, we report H2 sensors using networks of high aspect ratio and ultrathin reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-coated palladium nanowires (Pd NWs@rGO) with a coating of zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF-8) that serves as a nanofiltration layer. We first produced Pd NWs in high yield by a hydrothermal method, then sonicated them with GO and added a reducing agent to produce Pd NWs@rGO. Thin Pd NWs promote rapid response and high sensitivity, while rGO prevents the formation of additional conductive channels due to expansion of Pd NWs upon H2 exposure, ensuring monotonic sensor response. The coating of ZIF-8 reduces the transport of molecules like oxygen and nitrogen to the Pd NWs while allowing H2 to reach them and H2O to diffuse away from them. The optimized sensors showed a response (relative change in resistance) to 1% H2 in air of up to 2%, with a response time of 5 s and a lower limit of detection of 20 ppm. Relative to previously reported Pd-based H2 sensors with fast response, the Pd NWs@rGO@ZIF-8 nanocomposite-based device provides a low-cost, high-performance sensor solution for fuel-cell vehicles and similar applications that require both rapid and sensitive H2 detection.