LPG sensing application of graphene/CeO2 quantum dots composite

K. R. Nemade and S. A. Waghuley

Citation: AIP Conf. Proc. 1536, 1258 (2013); doi: 10.1063/1.4810698

View online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4810698
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 LPG Sensing Application Of Graphene/CeO2 Quantum Dots
Composite
K.R.Nemade and S.A.Waghuley*

Department of Physics, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati 444 602, India.
*Email: sandeepwaghuley@sgbau.ac.in

Abstract. Graphene/CeO2 quantum dots (QDs) composite was investigated towards the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) at
room temperature. Graphene was synthesized by electrochemical exfoliation of graphite. The composites of graphene/
CeO2 QDs was prepared by mixing 20 wt.% of graphene in constant 1g of CeO2. The chemiresistor of 20 wt.%
composite possesses optimum value of sensing response and excellent stability.
Keywords: Graphene, CeO2, Quantum dots.
PACS: 81.07.Ta Quantum dots

INTRODUCTION centrifuge operating at 3000 rpm for 30 min. This

Solid-state semiconductor sensors have gained
large attraction due to the serious disquiet of global
warming [1] and the detection of inammable gases
[2]. The sensing principle of semiconducting metal
oxide lms is based on the change in the electron
density in the conduction band of a semiconductor
oxide lm when specic gases interact with its surface.
In this paper, the synthesis of graphene/CeO2 QDs
composite by simple route has been reported. Their
gas sensing properties to LPG was investigated.
EXPERIMENTAL
Graphene was synthesized by the electrochemical
exfoliation of graphite using silver as a cathode. The
graphite flake and silver electrode were inserted into
the ionic solution with separation of 5 cm. The ionic
solution was prepared by taking 4.8 g of sulphuric acid
diluted in 100 ml of double distilled water [3].
Exfoliation process was carried out by DC bias
arrangement (10V) at room temperature. An exfoliated
graphene was collected through cellulose nitrate filter
paper and washed with double distilled water. The
obtained sample was dried at 100 qC for 2 h.
The CeO2 QDs were synthesized using cerous
nitrate and hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) through
chemical route.
centrifuged precipitate was collected through cellulose
nitrate filter paper. The filtrate dried at room
temperature for over night in vacuum chamber and
then sintered at 100°C for 3 h. The graphene/CeO2
QDs composite were prepared by mixing graphene in
constant 1 gm CeO2 QDs in 30 ml acetone as organic
media. Then, chemiresistors were prepared by screen-
printing. The electrical resistance was measured by
using a voltage drop method adopted by Waghuley et
al [4].
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Fig. 1 (a) and (b) depicts the XRD patterns of
graphene and CeO2 QDs, indicates the formation of
graphene and CeO2. The average crystallite size was
determined using Debye-Scherrer equation, which was
found to be 5.6 nm for graphene and 9.6 nm for CeO2
QDs.

Ce(NO3)2+C6H12N4oCeO2+C6N6+6H2O

The 1M cerous nitrate was mixed with 1M HMT in FIGURE 1. XRD patterns of (a) graphene and (b) CeO2
QDs.
30 ml double distilled water. The solution was
thoroughly mixed by magnetic stirrer for 2 h at room
temperature. Subsequently, the product kept for a
Proceeding of International Conference on Recent Trends in Applied Physics and Material Science
AIP Conf. Proc. 1536, 1258-1259 (2013); doi: 10.1063/1.4810698
© 2013 AIP Publishing LLC 978-0-7354-1160-9/$30.00

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 Fig. 2 shows the UV-VIS spectrum of CeO2 QDs. In order to check the stability of chemiresistors, its
The intense absorption is observed at 352 nm.This response towards 50 ppm of LPG at room temperature
confirms the presence of quantum confinment. were measured for 30 days at an interval of 5 days
after the rst measurement. The stability response
shows in Fig. 5. The chemiresistors have nearly
constant response to LPG indicating the good stability.

FIGURE 2. UV-VIS spectrum of CeO2 QDs.

The TEM images of graphene and CeO2 QDs are

shown in Fig. 3 (a) and (b). The TEM shows the
surface area is not perfectly leveled and surface giving FIGURE 5. Stability response of graphene, CeO2 QDs and
different levels of trasperency in case of graphene. The 20 wt.% composite.
TEM of CeO2 QDs shows the presence of irregular
shape particle having average crystallite size 9 nm.
CONCLUSIONS
The chemiresistor based on graphene/CeO2 QDs
composites (20 wt.%) exhibits the highest sensing
response for LPG at room temperature. The
chemiresistor of 20 wt.% composite exhibits attractive
performance at room temparature with optimum value
of sensing response and excellent stability.

FIGURE 3. TEM image of (a) graphene and (b) CeO2 QDs. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Fig. 4 depicts the sensing responses of Authors are very much thankful to Head,
chemiresistors to LPG at room temperature. It was Department of Physics Sant Gadge Baba Amravati
observed that the resistance of chemiresistor decreases University, Amravati for providing necessary
in the presence of LPG. This shows the reducing facilities.
character of LPG. The optimum value of sensing
responses at room temperature was found to be 1.3 for
20 wt% of chemiresistor. It was varying nearly linear
REFERENCES
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FIGURE 4. Gas sensing response of graphene, CeO2 QDs

and 20 wt.% composite.

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