Received: 30 Nov 2016 – Discussion started: 16 Dec 2016 – Revised: 27 Mar 2017 – Accepted: 26 Apr 2017 – Published: 13 Jun 2017
Abstract. The combination of the affinity of gold for mercury and nanosized frameworks has allowed for the design and fabrication of novel kinds of sensors with promising sensing features for environmental applications. Specifically, conductive sensors based on composite nanofibrous electrospun layers of titania easily decorated with gold nanoparticles were developed to obtain nanostructured hybrid materials capable of entrapping and revealing gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) traces from the environment. The electrical properties of the resulting chemosensors were measured. A few minutes of air sampling were sufficient to detect the concentration of mercury in the air, ranging between 20 and 100 ppb, without using traps or gas carriers (LOD: 1.5 ppb). Longer measurements allowed the sensor to detect lower concentrations of GEM. The resulting chemosensors are expected to be low cost and very stable (due to the peculiar structure), requiring low power, low maintenance, and simple equipment.
By exploiting the photocatalytic properties of electrospun titania nanofibers, a novel conductometric sensor was designed and fabricated to entrap and detect GEM in air. Such a sensor was able to work at room temperature and was highly sensitive to elemental mercury. Since it is composed of titania and gold nanoparticles, it seems to be robust and resistant to common solvents and VOCs in the air.
By exploiting the photocatalytic properties of electrospun titania nanofibers, a novel...
