Ultrathin and Porous Nio Hierarchical Nanosheets Array for Efficient Detection of 2-Cees: Mechanism Analysis and Simulation Application

Abstract

Mustard gas, as a highly lethal chemical warfare agent, has always posed a great threat to the safety of human life. Therefore, it is important to develop a sensing material for efficient detection of mustard gas. In this study, ultrathin and porous NiO hierarchical nanosheets array materials were prepared in-situ on ceramic tubes using a one-step hydrothermal method and subsequent calcination treatment for detecting 2-CEES with similar structure and properties to mustard gas. The materials were characterized using TG, XRD, IR, SEM, TEM, AFM, XPS, BET, PL and other testing methods. The test results indicate that the product (NiO-300) obtained by calcination at 300 °C has the advantages of large specific surface area, high surface adsorbed oxygen content, and high carrier utilization, and thus has outstanding gas-sensitive properties for 2-CEES gas. The NiO-300 sensor has a response of up to 13.3 to 10 ppm 2-CEES at 170 °C, a recovery time of 35 s, and a detection limit as low as 150 ppb. It also demonstrates good selectivity, reproducibility, humidity resistance, and long-term stability. Furthermore, the sensing mechanism of the NiO-300 material for 2-CEES gas is elucidated in depth by XPS and GC-MS.

Keywords: NiO nanosheets array, ultrathin and porous nanosheets, chemical warfare agents, gas sensor, 2-CEES sensing mechanism