PVDF-stimulated surface engineering in ZnO for highly sensitive and water-stable hydrazine sensors

Moonjeong Jang, Dowon Jung, Jiyun Lee, Seung Min Lee, Ahyeon Lee, Soonmin Yim, Wooseok Song, Sung Myung, Sun Sook Lee, Yun Chan Kang, Sang Kyu Kwak, Ki Seok An

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    8 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Sensors based on multifunctional n-type metal oxide semiconductors are attracting significant interest in environmental monitoring owing to their distinct characteristics including low production cost, high detection response to different noxious analytes, nontoxic nature, and acceptable biocompatibility. Herein, we present an innovative approach that utilizes surface functionalization on ZnO thin-film transistor (TFT)-type sensors with a fluoropolymer, poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) to realize highly sensitive and water-stable liquid-phase sensors. ZnO sensors laminated with PVDF-HFP thin films demonstrate exceptional repeatable stability to DI water and liquid-phase hydrazine, indicating excellent sensitivity in addition to low hydrazine-detection limits approaching 0.01 nM (sub-ppt level) under ambient conditions. This detection limit is five orders of magnitude less than that of the legal limit for an 8 h exposure time-weighted average for hydrazine. Moreover, relatively acceptable repeatability and reproducibility of the sensors were guaranteed over 96% of their initial base current with hydrazine for a month. This outstanding sensing performance is attributed to the enhanced surface interaction between PVDF-HFP with a strong dipole moment and hydrazine, which is completely discriminated from the universal detection mechanism associated with oxygen ion species in ZnO.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number152747
    JournalApplied Surface Science
    Volume585
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2022 May 30

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2022

    Keywords

    • Functionalization
    • Hydrazine sensor
    • Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)
    • Thin-film transistors
    • Zinc oxide

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Condensed Matter Physics
    • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
    • Surfaces and Interfaces

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