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 high-cost manufacturing are challenges facing the preparation of hybrid 3D Ni-MWCNTs/CNFs nanomaterials. In this article, MWCNTs have grown on electrospun CNFs by using low-cost reagents and an efficient production process. The direct growth of CNTs on electrospun CNFs completed via one-step process electrospinning of Ni (AC)/PVP/PAN solution and following CVD treatment. The hybrid 3D Ni-MWCNTs/CNFs showed a large surface area of 530 m2/g higher than Ni/CNFs of 375 m2/g. The diameter of the electrospun CNFs and grown CNTs about 150 and 20 nm of hierarchical 3D Ni-MWCNTs/CNFs observed by SEM and TEM images, respectively. The hybrid structure and full carbonization were confirmed by XRD and Raman spectrums. The 3D Ni-MWCNTs/CNFs showed a comparable gas sensing properties with high response and rapid response-recovery times versus Ni/CNFs, electrospun CNFs, 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/CNFs nanomaterials with high sensing performance.