Label-free one-dimension photonics crystals sensors assembled by UiO-66 and graphene oxide: A platform to quick and efficiently detect chlorobenzene vapors

In this study, we proposed the one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystals (PCs) chlorobenzene sensor assembled by TiO2, UiO-66 and graphene oxide (GO). The originality of the sensor is that the PCs structure alternately assembled by TiO2, UiO-66 and GO. The unique structure of the sensor can enhance the selectivity and sensibility of the sensor to chlorobenzene vapors because the mesoporous photonic structure built by UiO-66 nanoparticles and GO sheets can generate the van der Waals force and the pi-pi stacking interaction. The experiment results also demonstrated the detection limits of chlorobenzene vapors can reach 13 ppm and the distinct reflection spectra red-shift of 17.8 nm within 800 ms when exposed to chlorobenzene vapors stream. And that the refection peak displacement errors of the sensor are within 1.5 nm after repeatedly sensing experiments to chlorobenzene vapors. Moreover, thanks to the excellent stability of UiO-66 and GO, the sensor can maintain original performances after ultrasound and heat treatment. With excellent performances, the 1D PCs sensor can be the promising candidate of high-performance chlorobenzene sensors for environmental quality monitoring.