Graphene-based materials in gas sensor applications: A review

Abstract

Graphene and chemically modified graphene can be fabricated via numerous routes each with its own merits concerning ease of processability, cost-effectiveness for large-scale production, and also health and safety. One of the promising applications of graphene-based composites is gas sensing, which is mainly useful for environmental monitoring. We review some of the significant findings on graphene-based sensing materials for the detection of organic vapors, toxic gases, and chemical warfare agent simulants using an electrochemical method. Electrochemical sensing can be performed by inducing interactions between gas molecules and a graphene layer, such as charge transfer that gives a change in an electrical signal. The intrinsic properties of graphene and its role in some gas sensing applications will be discussed. Graphene and graphene oxide (GO) work as continuous conductive networks with a large number of surface adsorption sites for many gas molecules. Hybrid graphene devices incorporate semiconductors, metals, and molecular binders to enhance the capabilities of solidstate gas sensors. This article also addresses current approaches to the commercialization of graphene-based gas sensors.