Solid Electrolyte Gas Sensor Based on a Proton-Conducting Graphene Oxide Membrane

Graphene oxide (GO) is an ultrathin carbon nanosheet with various oxygen-containing functional groups. The utilization of GO has attracted tremendous attention in a number of areas, such as electronics, optics, optoelectronics, catalysis, and bioengineering. Here, we report the development of GO-based solid electrolyte gas sensors that can continuously detect combustible gases at low concentrations. GO membranes were fabricated by filtration using a colloidal solution containing GO nanosheets synthesized by a modified Hummers' method. The GO membrane exposed to humid air showed good proton-conducting properties at room temperature, as confirmed by hydrogen concentration cell measurements and complex impedance analyses. Gas sensor devices were fabricated using the GO membrane fitted with a Pt/C sensing electrode. The gas-sensing properties were examined by potentiometric and amperometric techniques. The GO sensor showed high, stable, and reproducible responses to hydrogen at parts per million concentrations in humid air at room temperature. The sensing mechanism is explained in terms of the mixed-potential theory. Our results suggest the promising capability of GO for the electrochemical detection of combustible gases.