Polyvinylpyrrolidone planarized liquid crystalline 1T-WS2/rGO hybrid nanocomposites-based humidity sensing platform

Abstract

Two-dimensional hybrid nanocomposites combining graphene-like materials and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are created using various synthesis methods and are vital for environmental sensing due to the synergistic effects of their components. These hybrid materials offer enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, surface-to-volume ratio, tunable electronic properties, strong interaction with analytes, and fast detection capabilities, which address the limitations of individual materials. This is due to their outstanding surface-to-volume ratio, tunable electronic properties, strong interactions with analytes, as well as their high sensitivity, selectivity, and fast detection capabilities, which are crucial for environmental sensing. Herein, a hydrothermally synthesized and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-stabilized 1T phase tungsten disulfide/reduced graphene oxide, 1T-WS₂/PVP/rGO, hybrid nanocomposite is reported. The intrinsic liquid crystalline behavior of the synthesized composite enables the formation of highly uniform films for effective humidity sensing. The optostructural characterization and key performance parameters, including response and recovery times, of the 1T-WS₂/PVP/rGO hybrid nanocomposite-based structure are comprehensively analyzed and studied. This is the first to report on the synthesis of a 1T-WS₂/PVP/rGO hybrid nanocomposite, its liquid crystalline phase formation, and application in humidity sensing. The proposed sensing platform introduces a novel approach to humidity sensing using 1T-WS₂/PVP/rGO liquid crystalline films, which combine the metallic advantages of 1T-WS₂, the stabilizing role of PVP and the conductive framework of rGO into aligned LC structures for enhanced sensitivity, rapid response and environmental robustness.