MXene-activated graphene oxide enhancing NO2 capture and detection of surface acoustic wave sensors.

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology has been widely used in the field of harmful gas detection, but there remain a lot of challenges, such as long response/recovery time as well as poor selectivity and repeatability. Herein, we activate graphene oxide (GO) using MXene with excellent adsorption capacity (MXene/GO) to realize efficient NO 2 gas detection. The SAW sensor assembled with the multilayered MXene/GO composite showcases an enhanced gas sensing performance to the NO 2 gas (1–200 ppm) enabling high sensitivity (Δf = 260 Hz/ppm), fast response/recovery time, excellent selectivity, and good repeatability at room temperature. The enhanced high sensitivity and selectivity detection of NO 2 gas is attributed to the large pore size, hydrophilicity, and abundant surface functional groups of the multilayered MXene/GO composite. This elaborate design is expected to propel the development of next-generation acoustic gas phase sensors. [Display omitted] • The MXene is investigated in surface acoustic wave sensors for the first time and filles the material gap. • The facile synthetic method for the MXene/GO composite is expected to realize rapid and large-scale synthesis of sensitive layers for surface acoustic wave sensors. • The working mechanism of MXene-based sensitive layers is proposed and the factors to influence sensing performance are also considered. • The excellent sensing performance of MXene/GO-based surface acoustic wave sensors is obtained under different conditions. • A novel MXene/GO composite is proposed for the first time to evaluate its working mechanism and sensing performance in SAW gas sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]