HFIP-functionalized 3D carbon nanostructure as chemiresistive nerve agents sensors under visible light

A new generation of reliable, sustainable and low power consumption sensors of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) is critically needed for homeland and manufacturing areas security. Due to large active surface, fast charge carriers mobility and function-ability, carbon nanostructure is an attractive detector to dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), imitation of nerve agents. Herein, 3D carbon nanostructure is constructed via in-situ growth of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) on electrospun CNFs (ECNFs), then activated with hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) to detect DMMP via H-bonding. To guarantee long-term stability, a designed holder that allows using pieces from sensing materials is used. Interestingly, 3D CNFs/ECNFs-HFIP exhibits a response of 25.5–1 ppm DMMP at room temperature (RT) under light irradiation, and maintains 88% of it in a humid environment, proving stability and humid independence. Compared with that in the dark and of ECNFs and ECNFs-HFIP, it is determined that the grafted HFIP and grown CNFs on ECNFs improve the DMMP detection. The fabric structure of 3D CNFs/ECNFs-HFIP provides a fast charge carriers pathway, quickening the response (2.4 s) and recovery (4.7 s) times. Overall the proposed strategies, the HFIP functionalized 3D carbon has a tremendous enticing to consider as an advanced CWAs sensing material.