Sensor parameters and adsorption behaviour of rhodamine-based polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber against dichloromethane vapour

Abstract

This study is focused on the determination of sensor and adsorption parameters of rhodamine-based polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber during the dichloromethane vapour exposure due to a very limited investigation of the rhodamine-based PAN nanofiber sensor. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurement system is employed to monitor the sensor response to dichloromethane vapour. This nanofiber sensor demonstrates a highly sensitive, stable, reproducible response and concentration dependence behaviour. A good stability, with an excellent recovery occurred. Sensor parameters such as the limit of detection (153 ppm), the limit of quantification (465 ppm), the sensitivity (0.0215 Hz/ppm), response (2 s) and recovery (3 s) times are determined using QCM measurement results. Pseudo first-order and Elovich adsorption models have proved that dichloromethane vapours are adsorbed by this nanofiber sensor and the amount of vapour adsorption rate is increased when the concentration of dichloromethane vapour increases. Owing to its achieved sensor parameters, high adsorption feature and simple fabrication process with a low cost, this proposed sensing device is expected to be a promising alternative for monitoring dichloromethane vapour sensing application at room temperature.