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TiO2 nanotubes/g-C3N4 quantum dots/rGO Schottky heterojunction nanocomposites as sensors for ppb-level detection of NO2

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Abstract

As a strong oxidizing pollutant, NO2 can cause fire or even explosion. People living in atmosphere containing NO2 for a long time will significantly affects human health. In this work, we developed a Schottky heterojunction sensor modified by g-C3N4 quantum dots (g-C3N4QDs) and rGO deposited on TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) arrays. This sensor showed high response and extremely fast response/recovery time as well as excellent detection of ppb level of NO2 at room temperature. TNTs were obtained using a one-step anodic oxidation process. TNTs were modified with g-C3N4QDs and rGO using quasi-CVD method and cyclic voltammetry during in situ electrodeposition, respectively. TNTs/g-C3N4QDs/rGO Schottky heterojunction sensor exhibited high sensitivity to 10 ppm of NO2 (response equal to 15982) at room temperature. Below 15 ppb, sensing response also can reach 127. Sensor response was very fast and increased to 15982 in just 2 s when exposed to 10 ppm of NO2 after which it recovers 90% within 1.16 s. This work clarified the influence of abundant oxygen vacancies (VO·) in TNTs and photogenerated electrons on TNTs/g-C3N4QDs/rGO nanostructures as well as their sensing performances. Our experimental details demonstrated that Schottky barrier was established between TNTs and rGO, which was very beneficial for ppb-level NO2 detection at room temperature.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported financially by funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21866028, 61704114, 51662036,), Graduate Student Scientific Research Innovation Projects in Xinjiang Autonomous Region (XJGRI2017046), Achievements Transformation and Technique Extension Projection in Shihezi University (CGZH201603) and Open Foundation of Engineering Research Center of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering of Xinjiang Bintuan (2016BTRC005).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory for Green Processing of Chemical Engineering of Xinjiang Bingtuan/Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/Engineering Research Center of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering of Xinjiang Bingtuan, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China

    Xuejun Dong, Keliang Wu, Weifang Zhu, Pengcheng Wu, Juan Hou, Zhaoxiong Wang, Ran Li, Jianning Wu, Zhiyong Liu & Xuhong Guo

  2. Key Laboratory of Ecophysics and Department of Physics of Xinjiang Bingtuan, College of Science, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, People’s Republic of China

    Juan Hou

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  1. Xuejun Dong
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Dong, X., Wu, K., Zhu, W. et al. TiO2 nanotubes/g-C3N4 quantum dots/rGO Schottky heterojunction nanocomposites as sensors for ppb-level detection of NO2. J Mater Sci 54, 7834–7849 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-019-03468-x

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