Laser‐Assisted Mo 2 C‐Derived Patterned Oxide for Highly Selective Room Temperature Ammonia Sensor for Food Spoilage Monitoring
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The need for advanced gas sensors has risen for the detection of hazardous gases, breath analysis, and food industry applications. Transition metal carbides (TMCs), like Mo 2 C, are novel gas‐sensing materials attributed to high electronic conductivity and superior catalytic properties. Poor sensitivity and selectivity are big concerns in TMC‐based sensors due to their low specific surface area and fewer reactive sites. Partial oxidation of Mo 2 C offers the tuning of structural, chemical, and electronic properties. However, conventional techniques, annealing, and solution processing offer uncontrolled oxidation and lead to structural degradation. Herein, by using a temporally and spatially controlled picosecond (ps) pulsed laser, micropatterned Mo 2 C‐derived oxide (MoO 3 ) is developed at room temperature for highly efficient ammonia (NH 3 ) sensing. The uniformly decorated MoO 3 nanoclusters over Mo 2 C function as active centers for better NH 3 interaction and formation of discrete Schottky barriers (SBs) between materials, tuning the charge carrier transportation. The MoO 3 /Mo 2 C sensor exhibited excellent selectivity toward NH 3 over other interfering gases like hydrogen, ethanol, and acetone. This sensor showed excellent sensitivity (351%/100 parts per billion (ppb) NH 3 ) and long‐term stability. The Mo 2 C laser‐treated sensor has been successfully tested for monitoring food spoilage. Laser‐assisted engineering will provide a new avenue for designing highly efficient gas sensors.
Source: Small Methods
Authors: Radha Bhardwaj, Sujit Deshmukh, Martin Pumera
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,640
Awards: G1074451385, G1153767801, G1417226337, G1492781007, G1711002585, G1935710221, Research infrastructure CzechNanoLab, G2778226874, G291036901, G3076994783, G3735356012, G3771185154, G3810236772, G4273056302, G4283425136, G434337789, G4396925471, G4535693257, G535059049, G5770367750, G6253592498, G6402224719, G6666489062, G7615078301, G8140083606, ERA-NET for research and innovation on materials and battery technologies, supporting the European Green Deal.
OpenAlex ID: W4414298241