Hydrogen Sensors Based on MoS₂ Hollow Architectures Assembled by Pickering Emulsion

Abstract

For rapid hydrogen gas (H₂) sensing, we propose the facile synthesis of the hollow structure of Pt-decorated molybdenum disulfide (h-MoS₂/Pt) using ultrathin (mono- or few-layer) two-dimensional nanosheets. The controlled amphiphilic nature of MoS₂ surface produces ultrathin MoS₂ NS-covered polystyrene particles <i>via</i> one-step Pickering emulsification. The incorporation of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) on the MoS₂, followed by pyrolysis, generates the highly porous h-MoS₂/Pt. This hollow hybrid structure produces sufficiently permeable pathways for H₂ and maximizes the active sites of MoS₂, while the Pt NPs on the hollow MoS₂ induce catalytic H₂ spillover during H₂ sensing. The h-MoS₂/Pt-based chemiresistors show sensitive H₂ sensing performances with fast sensing speed (response, 8.1 s for 1% of H₂ and 2.7 s for 4%; and recovery, 16.0 s for both 1% and 4% H₂ at room temperature in the air). These results mark the highest H₂ sensing speed among 2D material-based H₂ sensors operated at room temperature in air. Our fabrication method of h-MoS₂/Pt structure through Pickering emulsion provides a versatile platform applicable to various 2D material-based hollow structures and facilitates their use in other applications involving surface reactions.