The complex and variable environments
are challenging the development
of related detection and analysis. Ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen
chloride (HCl) gases are both commonly used in industry, but they
are considered to be toxic and corrosive substances that can threaten
human health and the environment. Therefore, it is necessary here
to develop a convenient, sensitive, and reliable sensor device for
acid–alkali gas detection. Herein, we propose the synthesis
strategy of an ultrathin film gas sensor based on the pH-responsive,
self-powered, and visible composite Langmuir–Blodgett (LB)
films. In our work, the LB films with nanometric thicknesses are obtained
based on the sensitive materials of two novel carbazole structural
sensitizers (abbreviated as CS-35 and CS-37) and several dye molecules.
The composite LB films are formed with Carbazole samples and dye molecules
through hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking, synergistic
electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions, existing
as J-aggregate or H-aggregate. The formation of high-quality and uniform
Langmuir films is confirmed with transmission electron microscope
(TEM), UV–vis spectrum, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and
other measurements. In addition, based on the simple protonation and
deprotonation, the prepared LB films can be assembled into a visual
sensor for the response of pH gases. The response is confirmed by
the study of ultraviolet spectroscopy and electrical output in vertical
contact separation mode, which potentially unlocks a sustainable future
for the application of ultrathin self-powered gas sensors.