Improvement of Gas and Humidity Sensing Properties of Organ-like MXene by Alkaline Treatment

Abstract

Ti3C2Tx MXene with an organ-like structure was synthesized from Ti3AlC2 (MAX phase) through the typical hydrofluoric (HF) acid etching method. Ti3C2Tx MXene was further alkaline-treated with a sodium hydroxide solution to obtain alkalized Ti3C2Tx. Room-temperature planar-type gas- and humidity-sensing devices were also fabricated by utilizing Ti3C2Tx MXene and alkalized Ti3C2Tx sensing material based on the dip coating method, respectively. The intercalation of the alkali metal ion (Na+) and the increase of the surface terminal oxygen–fluorine ratio ([O]/[F]) in Ti3C2Tx can effectively improve humidity- and gas-sensing properties at room temperature. The developed alkalized Ti3C2Tx sensor exhibited excellent humidity-sensing characteristics (approximately 60 times response signal change) in the relative humidity (RH) with a range of 11–95% and considerable NH3 sensing performance (28.87% response value to 100 ppm of NH3) at room temperature. The improvement of NH3 and humidity-sensing properties indicated that alkalized Ti3C2Tx has great potential in chemical sensors, especially in NH3 and humidity sensors.