Nanochitin-based composite films as a disposable ethanol sensor

Author(s)

Andre, Rafaela S. ; dos Santos, Danilo M. ; Mercante, Luiza A. ; Facure, Murilo H. M. ; Campana-Filho, Sergio P. ; Mattoso, Luiz H. C. ; Correa, Daniel S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING; v. 8, n. 5, p. 9-pg., 2020-10-01.

Abstract

Miniaturized and inexpensive sensing platforms remains an important goal for the field-deployable monitoring of toxic gases. In this work, we report a disposable ethanol sensor based on nanochitin-composite containing chitin nanowhiskers/zinc oxide nanoparticles/polyaniline (ChitNW-ZnO/PANI) produced via solution casting method. The as-prepared material was fully characterized by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, contact angle measurements, mechanical tests, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray diffraction, confirming its successful preparation and revealing its morphology, microstructure and composition. Such nanocomposite showed enhanced ethanol sensing performance at room temperature, in which quantitative analysis was obtained in the range 20-100 ppm with a detection limit of 17 ppm (S/N = 3). We further validated that common potential interfering agents were not misidentified with ethanol. The development of such a unique nanochitin-based composite as a disposable sensor is a great step ahead in flexible and wearable electronics having potential applications in different fields such as biomedical and biotechnological engineering, security and internet of things (IoT). (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/12174-4 - Development of hybrid polymer nanofibers for agricultural applications
• Grantee: Daniel Souza Corrêa
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/23793-4 - Development of nanostructured sensor aiming the detection of volatile compounds for food quality indicators
• Grantee: Rafaela da Silveira Andre
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 17/10582-8 - Production and characterization of graphene quantum dots and their application in chemical sensors
• Grantee: Murilo Henrique Moreira Facure
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/20973-4 - Coaxial electrospun nanofibers based on chitosan for controlled release of antibiotics and periodontic lesion treatment
• Grantee: Danilo Martins dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral