Porous polyaniline/flower-like hybrid phase MoS2/phosphorus-doped graphene ternary nanocomposite for efficient room temperature ammonia sensors

Ammonia, a ubiquitous gas with diverse industrial applications, demands reliable and cost-effective sensing technologies for monitoring and control. In this context, this study presents the development of a novel ternary nanocomposite comprised of porous polyaniline (PANI), hybrid phase molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), and phosphorus-doped graphene (PGO) for the realization of highly efficient room temperature ammonia sensors. The synergistic combination of these three materials leverages their individual properties, such as high surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and enhanced catalytic activity, to create a robust sensing platform. The PANI/1 T-2 H MoS₂/PGO nanocomposites were synthesized by a combination of solvothermal processing and in-situ polymerization techniques. The morphological and structural characteristics of the PANI/1 T-2 H MoS₂/PGO nanocomposites were conducted using advanced analytical techniques, that include, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method (BET). The enhanced surface area of PANI/1 T-2 H MoS₂/PGO (54.72 m²/g) compared to PANI (31.8 m²/g) has a positive impact on the sensing characteristics of PANI/1 T-2 H MoS₂/PGO. The PANI/1 T-2 H MoS₂/PGO nanocomposite sensor has shown sensing response values of ∼1070 %, response time of 12 s, recovery time of 30 s towards 100 ppm of NH_3, and detection limit is 0.01 ppm (10 ppb). A highly linear gas response of the PANI/1 T-2 H MoS₂/PGO sensor is observed in a range of 10–100 ppm ammonia concentration. The development of the PANI/1 T-2 H MoS₂/PGO nanocomposite sensor aims to meet the increasing need for temperature-efficient, cost-effective, and energy-efficient gas sensing technologies that can be used in various fields including environmental monitoring and industrial safety.