Fabrication of novel ternary g-C3N4/Zn0.5Ni0.5Fe1.8Mn0.2O4/rGO hybrid nanocomposites for humidity sensing†

Abstract

This research focuses on the fabrication of novel ternary g-C₃N₄/Zn_0.5Ni_0.5Fe_1.8Mn_0.2O₄/rGO hybrid nanocomposites (NCs) for humidity sensing applications. The integration of carbon based two dimensional (2D) materials—reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄)—with spinel ferrite nanoparticles (Zn_0.5Ni_0.5Fe_1.8Mn_0.2O₄) in a ternary configuration aims to exploit their distinct properties synergistically, enhancing humidity sensing capabilities. Zn_0.5Ni_0.5Fe_1.8Mn_0.2O₄, Zn_0.5Ni_0.5Fe_1.8Mn_0.2O₄/rGO, and g-C₃N₄/Zn_0.5Ni_0.5Fe_1.8Mn_0.2O₄ have been synthesized for comparison. The study involves the synthesis process, structural characterization, and evaluation of humidity sensing performance. X-ray peak profiling reveals that the crystallite sizes of the composites are ∼10–14 nm, whereas the particle size range is 6–25 nm from transmission electron microscopy. The XPS survey of the NCs has shown good interaction with water molecules by adsorption processes, which indicates the suitability of the materials for humidity sensing. The dielectric and magnetic properties of the NCs were studied in detail. The fabricated nanocomposites exhibit promising results, showing sensitivity to varying humidity levels of 11–98% with good response and recovery characteristics. The investigation into the nanoscale interactions between different components seeks to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the enhanced sensing properties, with potential applications in environmental monitoring, healthcare, and consumer electronics.