Abstract:
Zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67), carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), and the CNPs@ZIF-67 composite
were prepared and used to fabricate sensors for the detection of acetone vapour. The prepared materials
were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The sensors were tested
using an LCR meter under the resistance parameter. It was found that the ZIF-67 sensor did not respond at
room temperature, the CNP sensor had a non-linear response to all analytes, and the CNPs/ZIF-67 sensor
had an excellent linear response to acetone vapour and was less sensitive to 3-pentanone, 4-methyl-1-
hexene, toluene and cyclohexane vapours. However, it was found that ZIF-67 improves carbon soot
sensor sensitivity by 155 times, wherein the sensitivity of the carbon soot sensor and carbon soot@ZIF-
67 sensor on acetone vapour was found to be 0.0004 and 0.062 respectively. In addition, the sensor
was found to be insensitive to humidity and the limit of detection was 484 ppb at room temperature.
