Room-Temperature Detection of Perfluoroisobutyronitrile with SnO2/Ti3C2Tx Gas Sensors

Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene is an emerging two-dimensional transition-metal carbide/nitride with excellent properties of large specific surface and high carrier mobility for room-temperature gas sensing. However, achieving high sensitivity and long-term stability of pristine Ti 3 C 2 T x -based gas sensors remains challenging. SnO 2 is a typical semiconductor metal oxide with high reaction activity and stable chemical properties ideal for a dopant that can comprehensively improve sensing performance. Ti 3 C 2 T x and SnO 2 are investigated for the first time in this study as functional materials for hybridization and room-temperature detection of the gas insulating medium fluorinated nitrile (C 4 F 7 N) with microtoxicity. A Ti 3 C 2 T x –SnO 2 nanocomposite sensor exhibits superior sensitivity, high selectivity, strong anti-interference ability, and excellent long-term stability. The enhanced sensing mechanism is ascribed to the synergistic effect between SnO 2 and Ti 3 C 2 T x and the strong adsorption ability of SnO 2 to C 4 F 7 N similar to bait for fish. We also established an actual leakage scene and demonstrated the feasibility of the Ti 3 C 2 T x –SnO 2 sensor to provide distribution rules with high sensing efficiency for actual engineering applications. The results of this work can expand the gas sensing application of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene and provide a reference for maintaining C 4 F 7 N-based eco-friendly gas-insulated equipment.