Modification of Carbon Nitride/Reduced Graphene Oxide van der Waals Heterostructure with Copper Nanoparticles To Improve CO2 Sensitivity

Ellis, James E.; Sorescu, Dan C.; Hwang, Sean I.; Burkert, Seth C.; White, David L.; Kim, Hyojeong; Star, Alexander

doi:10.1021/acsami.9b13440

Modification of Carbon Nitride/Reduced Graphene Oxide van der Waals Heterostructure with Copper Nanoparticles To Improve CO₂ Sensitivity

Journal Article · Fri Oct 11 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b13440· OSTI ID:1607763

Ellis, James E. ^[1]; Sorescu, Dan C. ^[2]; Hwang, Sean I. ^[1]; Burkert, Seth C. ^[1]; White, David L. ^[1]; Kim, Hyojeong ^[1]; ^[1]

Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
Univ. of Pittsburgh, PA (United States); National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Albany, OR (United States)

Carbon nitride/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) van der Waals heterostructures (vdWH) have previously shown exceptional oxygen sensitivity via a photoredox mechanism, making it a potential material candidate for various applications such as oxygen reduction reaction catalysis and oxygen sensing. In this work, the electronic structure of a carbon nitride/rGO composite is modified through the introduction of copper nanoparticles (NPs). When incorporated into a chemiresistor device, this vdWH displayed a newfound CO₂ sensitivity. The effects of humidity and light were investigated and found to be crucial components for the CO₂ sensitivity. Density functional theory calculations performed on a carbon nitride/copper NP@rGO model system found an enhanced stabilization of CO₂ caused by H-bonds between the carbon nitride layer and chemisorbed CO₂ on copper, pointing to the important role played by humidity. The synergetic effect between the carbon nitride layer interfaced with CuNP@rGO, in combination with humidity and light (395 nm) irradiation, is found to be responsible for the newfound sensitivity toward CO₂.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)

OSTI ID:: 1607763

Journal Information:: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Journal Name: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces Journal Issue: 44 Vol. 11; ISSN 1944-8244

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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