Hybrid MoSe2/WSe2 Nanomaterials: Enhancing Humidity TolerantGas Response

Humidity can impair sensor performance, resulting ininaccurate readings and decreased sensitivity, which can underminethe dependability and effectiveness of sensing systems. This canpotentially result in flawed data analysis and compromised decision-making. It is important to develop a humidity-stable sensor to en-sure accuracy and reliable measurements in humid environments.2-D materials such as transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) havehigh surface-to-volume ratios and moisture-resistant properties, whichallow them to exhibit high-sensitivity in humid environments. In thiswork, molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2) and its hybrid with Tungsten Diselenide (MoSe2-WSe2) were synthesized, char-acterized, and evaluated for sensitivity to humidity. The response of the sensor was determined from the conductivitymeasurements of the exfoliated thin films at humidity levels ranging from 40%-80%. The average sensor response forhybrid MoSe2-WSe2and pure MoSe2was 95.5% and 77.58%, respectively, at 40% humidity. At 70% and 80% humidity,the hybrid MoSe2-WSe2showed noticeable sensor response (39.75% and 16.95%, respectively), whereas for MoSe2,the corresponding responses were very poor (0.33% and 0.09%, respectively). The response of the hybrid sensor dropsby 16.25% when humidity changes from 40% to 60% indicating reasonably stable behavior while response of MoSe2continues to degrade sharply as humidity is increased beyond 40%. In addition, the efficacy of the hybrid material wasinvestigated for 200 ppm H2gas under various humid conditions at room temperature. The results showed that the hybridMoSe2-WSe2exhibited a sensor response of 42.38%. It was noted that when humidity was changed from 40% to 60%, thesensor response reduced by just 3.38%, demonstrating humidity insensitive behavior. This suggests a correlation betweenthe hybrid material's humidity tolerance and its stability when subjected to gas exposure. Thus, this letter highlightsthat heterostructure nanomaterials are promising candidates for sensing applications in high-humidity environments