Preparation of NaV6O15/V2CTX composite materials for room-temperature ammonia sensing

Abstract

MXenes exhibit promise for room temperature sensing owing to their processability in solution, substantial surface area and minimal resistance. The research on vanadium-based oxides (NaV₆O₁₅) has focused on catalytic applications (H₂S oxidation) and energy storage (sodium-ion and zinc-ion batteries), showing that NaV₆O₁₅ possesses structural stability and adjustable chemical properties, which suggests that it is a potential gas sensing material. This study introduces a facile method for synthesizing NaV₆O₁₅/V₂CT_X composites by calcining V₂CT_X MXene precursors in an air atmosphere. The composite material maintains the open layered structure of the V₂CT_X MXene precursor. The conductive network of MXene and the chemical reactivity of vanadium oxides were used to improve room-temperature ammonia (NH₃) sensing capabilities. Gas sensitivity assessments reveal a response of 2.5% to 100 ppm NH₃ at room temperature. The response decay was less than 30% over 27 days of continuous testing, demonstrating exceptional long-term stability. This investigation is the first application of NaV₆O₁₅ in gas sensing applications, offering novel perspectives on the development of low-power, highly durable MXene-based NH₃ sensors.