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Development of graphene doped TiO2 nanotube array based MIM structured sensors and its application for methanol sensing at room temperature
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1  BITS Pilani, Pilani Rajasthan
Academic Editor: Giovanni Neri

Abstract:

A highly ordered and oriented graphene doped TiO2 nanotubes array was synthesised by electrochemical anodization route. High purity graphene oxide suspension was used to prepare from 0.2 wt% graphene oxide (GO) aqueous solution. Then an electrolyte was prepared with 0.5 wt% NH4F, 10 vol% of GO aqueous solution and ethylene glycol. Two electrodes anodic oxidation was performed for 120 min under 40 V potential where Ti foil was used as the anode and graphite was used as the cathode. Due to the constant availability of GO in the electrolyte, graphene was doped uniformly in the TiO2 nanotubes without affecting the morphology of TiO2 nanotubes. Scanning electron micrograph authenticated the formation of highly aligned graphene doped TiO2 nanotubes with length of 1 µm. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy confirmed the formation of anatase crystallinity in the TiO2 nanotubes array. The evidence of graphene in the in the hybrid nanotubes was authenticated by the D and G peak in the Raman spectra. X-ray photo electron spectra confirmed the formation of Ti-O-C linkage in the graphene doped TiO2 nanotube ensuring the formation of high quality composite. Metal-Insulator (oxide)-Metal (MIM) structured sensors were fabricated by using both pure and graphene doped TiO2 nanotubes. In both the devices, Ti substrate was considered as the bottom electrode and e-beam deposited porous Au was considered as the top electrode. Both the sensors were examined under low concentration methanol. Graphene doped TiO2 nanotubes depicted a sensitivity of 28% with quite a fast response and recovery time of 34s and 40s towards 100 ppm of methanol. On the other hand, pure TiO2 nanotubes array depicted a sensitivity of 20% with relatively slow response/recovery time (116s/576s) in the same conditions. A significant improvement in methanol sensing was achieved by the formation of localized heterojunctions between graphene and TiO2 in the hybrid sample.

Keywords: Graphene doping, Electrochemical anodization, Methanol sensing
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