Polyvinylpyrrolidone/Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes/Graphene Nanocomposite as Gas Sensor

Abstract

In this work, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanocomposite was prepared and hybridized with Graphene (Gr) by the solution casting method. The morphological and electrical properties were investigated by field effect scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images, portraying a uniform dispersion of graphene within the PVP-MWCNT nanocomposite. The AC conductivity increased from (1.45552) to (2.34812) (Ω cm)-1 with the use of nanocomposite. The increasing continues for the AC conductivity after hybridized with graphene up to (7.20641) (Ω cm)-1. In addition, the performances of the prepared samples for gas sensor application have been investigated. It was seen that the sensitivity analysis portrayed higher value for the nanocomposite hybridized with Gr (S=2.2 and 5.4%) as compared to the pure sample (MWCNTs). Finally, the recovery and response times were increased when the temperature increased due to the increment of the adsorption of the gas that resulted from the free electrons.