Preparation, characterization and NH3-sensing properties of reduced graphene oxide/copper phthalocyanine hybrid material

A novel hybrid material composed of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and 1,8,15,22-tetra-iso-pentyloxyphthalocyanine copper (3-CuPc) derivative was obtained. The resultant RGO/3–CuPc hybrid was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, Ultraviolet-visible, X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scan electron microscopy. The results indicated that 3-CuPc molecules were successfully anchored on the surface of the RGO sheets by the π–π stacking interaction. The NH3 sensing behaviors of the RGO/3–CuPc hybrids were also investigated and compared with the sensors based on pristine RGO. The results showed that the response of the RGO/3–CuPc hybrid sensor is five times more sensitive than that of pristine RGO, and the recovery time is 10 times faster than that of pristine RGO. The RGO/3–CuPc hybrid sensor exhibited excellent response, reversibility and selectivity, indicating a remarkable accumulation effect as a result of 3-CuPc functionalized graphene. An innovative method for the application of RGO/MPc hybrids in the gas sensing field was provided.