Ti₃C₂T MXene-Derived Metal-Organic Frameworks for Room Temperature NO₂ Detection

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Two-dimensional (2D) conductive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising for gas sensing.
• MXene materials offer unique properties for sensor development.
• Tailoring MOFs can enhance selectivity and sensitivity for specific gases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a new method for synthesizing 2D conductive MOFs using MXene precursors.
• To enhance gas sensing capabilities, specifically for nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
• To investigate the sensing performance, selectivity, and stability of the fabricated MOF sensor.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of MXene-derived MOFs using Ti3C2Tx MXene and 2-aminoterephthalic acid.
• Fabrication of a gas sensor based on the synthesized 2D MOFs.
• Characterization of sensing response, selectivity, response/recovery times, and stability.
• Evaluation of the limit of detection (LOD) for NO2 gas.

Main Results:

• Achieved a notable sensing response of 76.52% for NO2 gas.
• Demonstrated rapid response (31.5 s) and recovery (80.2 s) times at room temperature.
• Exhibited excellent specificity toward acidic NO2 gas due to acid-base interactions.
• Reported a low LOD of 5 ppb for NO2 gas with good repeatability and stability.

Conclusions:

• The developed 2D MOF sheets derived from MXene precursors show significant potential for practical gas sensing.
• The integration of MXene with MOFs enhances surface reactivity and sensing performance.
• This approach offers a versatile platform for creating highly effective gas sensors.