Improved NO2 gas sensing performance of 2D MoS2/Ti3C2Tx MXene nanocomposite

Abstract

In this study, novel MoS2/Ti3C2Tx heterostructures were prepared from Ti3C2Tx MXene via a hydrothermal strategy. The well-bonded interface developed between the MoS2 nanostructure and the conductive Ti3C2Tx MXene played a crucial role in improving the sensing abilities of the prepared heterostructures compared to their pristine counterparts. Owing to the synergistic interplay effect, the optimal MoS2/Ti3C2Tx heterostructure exhibited room-temperature NO2 sensing activity with a rapid response and full recovery at low gas concentrations. To understand the high sensitivity, density functional theory calculations were used to observe stable configurations and adsorption behaviors. The proposed concept may provide an archetype for understanding the sensing characteristics of materials for NO2 detection at room temperatures.