3D hybrid Ni-Multiwall carbon nanotubes/carbon nanofibers for detecting sarin nerve agent at room temperature

3D Ni-Multiwall carbon nanotubes/carbon nanofibers nanostructure has received many attentions due to the large specific surface and excellent electrochemical performance. The aggregation of CNTs and highcost manufacturing are challenges facing the preparation of hybrid 3D Ni-MWCNTs/CNEs nanomaterials. In this article, MWCNTs have grown on electrospun CNEs by using low-cost reagents and an efficient production process. The direct growth of CNTs on electrospun CNEs completed via one-step process electrospinning of Ni (AC)/PVP/PAN solution and following CVD treatment. The hybrid 3D Ni-MWCNTs/CNEs showed a large surface area of 530 m(2)/g higher than Ni/CNEs of 375 m(2)/g. The diameter of the electrospun CNEs and grown CNTs about 150 and 20 nm of hierarchical 3D Ni-MWCNTs/CNEs observed by SEM and TEM images, respectively. The hybrid structure and full carbonization were confirmed by XRD and Raman spectrums. The 3D Ni-MWCNTs/CNEs showed a comparable gas sensing properties with high response and rapid response-recovery times versus Ni/CNEs, electrospun CNEs, and commercial CNTs at RT toward 100 ppb DMMP gas (Dimethyl methyl phosphonate is a simulant gas for sarin nerve agent) with excellent selectivity. In fact, the synthetic procedure promises to be an effective approach to synthesize the hybrid 3D CNTs/CNEs nanomaterials with high sensing performance. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.