Corroles Coated Ti₃C₂T_x MXene for Gas Sensors

Abstract

MXenes are promising materials for a wide range of technological applications. In gas sensing, the properties of MXene are often combined with those of organic or inorganic materials to create high-performance sensors. In this study, the combination of corrole molecules and Ti3C2Tx MXene is explored. Corroles, akin to porphyrins, impart chemical sensitivity to MXene, while MXene’s conductivity forms the basis for developing chemiresistors. Previous studies suggest that the chemical sensitivity of corroles is strongly dependent on the metal ion complexed at the core of the macrocycle. Thus, to investigate the role of metal, we utilized a 5,15-tolyl,10-(4-carboxyphenyl)corrole both as a free base and as a hydroxy-Si(IV) complex. Ti3C2Tx MXene coated with silicon corrole and free-base corrole exhibit similar responses to gases, with silicon corrole demonstrating the modulation of the sensitivity respect to the free base molecule. The distinctions between the two corroles are significant enough to distinguish aromatic compounds from other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These findings suggest that corrole-coated MXene holds promise as a candidate for gas sensor arrays.