Highly sensitive, responsive, and selective iodine gas sensor fabricated using AgI-functionalized graphene.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39885170.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-56621-3 and PMC identifier 11782478.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
Radioactive molecular iodine (I<sub>2</sub>) is a critical volatile pollutant generated in nuclear energy applications, necessitating sensors that rapidly and selectively detect low concentrations of I<sub>2</sub> vapor to protect human health and the environment. In this study, we design and prepare a three-component sensing material comprising reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as the substrate, silver iodide (AgI) particles as active sites, and polystyrene sulfonate as an additive. The AgI particles enable reversible adsorption and conversion of I<sub>2</sub> molecules into polyiodides, inducing substantial charge density variation in rGO. This mechanism facilitates exceptional sensitivity and selectivity, ultrafast response and recovery times, and room-temperature operation. A multifunctional sensor prototype fabricated utilizing this material achieves the fastest reported response/recovery times (22/22 seconds in dynamic mode and 4.2/11 seconds in static mode) and a detection limit of 25 ppb, surpassing standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), while outperforming commercial I<sub>2</sub> gas sensors. This work provides profound insights into the design of I<sub>2</sub> sensing materials and mechanisms for real-world applications.