Electroluminescent Ag nanoparticles decorated carbon nanotubes–based device for room-temperature NH3sensing application
Issued Date
2026-03-01
Resource Type
ISSN
09259635
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105030601255
Journal Title
Diamond and Related Materials
Volume
163
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Diamond and Related Materials Vol.163 (2026)
Suggested Citation
Saengsonachai A., Wongkokua W., Chaisakul P., Kerdcharoen T., Zacharias M., Wongchoosuk C. Electroluminescent Ag nanoparticles decorated carbon nanotubes–based device for room-temperature NH3sensing application. Diamond and Related Materials Vol.163 (2026). doi:10.1016/j.diamond.2026.113410 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/115423
Title
Electroluminescent Ag nanoparticles decorated carbon nanotubes–based device for room-temperature NH3sensing application
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Alternating-current electroluminescence (AC-EL) technologies have recently emerged as promising platforms for multifunctional optoelectronic devices. However, their application in gas sensing remains limited. Herein, we report a dual-function AC-EL device incorporating a silver nanoparticles–decorated carbon nanotubes (AgNPs–CNTs) sensing layer that enables simultaneous light emission and room-temperature ammonia (NH<inf>3</inf>) detection. The AgNPs–CNTs, consisting of CNTs with an average diameter of ∼16 nm uniformly decorated with AgNPs of ∼25 nm in diameter, significantly enhance charge transport and electric-field distribution, leading to a 1.6-fold increase in electroluminescent intensity after coating. Upon exposure to NH<inf>3</inf>, the device exhibits a clear and reversible decrease in optical luminance. The AgNPs-CNTs based AC-EL device demonstrates linear concentration-dependent sensing over the range of 100–1000 ppm (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.997), high sensitivity (∼0.026 ppm<sup>−1</sup>), rapid response–recovery behavior, excellent device-to-device reproducibility, and strong selectivity against common volatile organic compounds and humidity. The sensing mechanism of the AgNPs-CNTs based AC-EL device is proposed via electron donation from NH<inf>3</inf> to the p-type CNTs, modulation of the AgNPs/CNTs metal–semiconductor junctions, and subsequent suppression of excitation processes within the ZnS:Cu,Cl phosphor layer. The results demonstrate a simple, low-cost, and scalable strategy for developing optical gas sensors based on AC-EL architectures. This work establishes AC-EL devices as a promising platform for next-generation visual gas indicators and low-power optoelectronic sensing systems suitable for environmental monitoring, smart packaging, and wearable electronics.