An in-situ FTIR-LCR meter technique to study the sensing mechanism of MnO2@ZIF-8/CNPs and a direct relationship between the sensitivity of the sensors and the rate of surface reaction

Abstract

Diethylamine vapor is harmful to people if inhaled or swallowed, as it results in the oxidation of hemoglobin in the body into unwanted methemoglobin, which is unable to transport oxygen in the blood, resulting in reduced blood oxygenation. Lack of blood oxygenation leads to hypoxemia. MnO2 nanorods, carbon soot, and MnO2@ZIF-8 are sensing materials used to prepare solid-state gas sensors that operate at room temperature. The prepared sensing materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The performance of the MnO2@ZIF-8 based sensor improved significantly when the carbon soot was introduced into the composite. The effect of the amount of CNPs in the composite on the performance of the sensors was studied. The MnO2@ZIF-8/CNPs-based sensor with a 3:1 mass ratio was highly selective towards diethylamine vapor over acetone, methanol, ethanol, and 3-pentanone vapors. An in situ FTIR coupled with LCR meter was used to understand the sensing mechanism of diethylamine vapor and it was found that the sensing mechanism was by deep oxidation of diethylamine to CO2, H2O, and other molecules. The sensing mechanism was studied by monitored by CO2 band intensity which was produced from the reaction between the sensing materials and the analyte vapor. As the sensor’s exposure time increased the intensity of the CO2 IR band increased. We observed the direct relationship between the surface reaction rate and the sensor’s sensitivity.