Zeolitic imidazolate framework as humidity-resistant solid state-chemiresistive gas sensors: A review

With significant technological advances, solid-state gas sensors have been extensively applied to detect toxic gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in confined areas such as indoor environments and industries and to identify gas leakage. Semiconductor metal oxides are the primary sensing materials, although their major drawbacks include a lack of sensitivity, poor performance at high humidity, and operating at high temperatures ranging between 140 and 400 °C. Recently, the use of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) in gas sensors has received considerable attention as a promising material to overcome the drawbacks possessed by semiconductor metal oxide-based gas sensors. Because of their unique properties, including size tunability, high surface area, and stability in humidity, ZIF becomes a preferred candidate for sensing materials. The use of ZIF materials in gas sensors is limited because of their high-temperature operation and low gas responses. This review outlines the strategies and developments in the utilization of ZIF-based materials in gas sensing. The significant influence of the addition of carbon additives in ZIF materials for temperature operation sensors is discussed. Finally, ZIF-carbon additives and SMO@ZIFs/carbon additives are the proposed materials to be studied for future prospects for the detection of VOCs at low temperatures and exhibiting good selectivity towards the gas of interest.