In this paper, we develop high-performance gas sensors
based on
heteroatom-doped and -codoped graphene oxide as a sensing material
for the detection of NO2 at trace levels. Graphene oxide
(GO) was doped with nitrogen and boron by a chemical method using
urea and boric acid as precursors. The prepared samples were characterized
by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy
(TEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy (XPS). The obtained results proved the successful reduction
of graphene oxide by doping effects, leading to the removal of some
oxygen functional groups and restoration of an sp2 carbon
structure. New bonds in honeycombs, such as pyridinic, pyrrolic, graphitic,
B–C3, B–C2–O, and B–O,
were created. Compared to the nondoped GO, the N/B-rGO materials exhibited
enhanced responses toward low concentrations of NO2 (<1
ppm) at 100 °C. Particularly, the N-rGO-based device showed the
highest sensitivity and lowest limit of detection.