Toward the use of graphene oxide-based planar inductors as a transducer for gas sensing applications

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we investigate the use of a graphene oxide (GO)-coated planar inductor as a transducer for gas sensing applications in alternating current (AC) mode. The GO is synthesized using the Hummers method and coated as a functional layer on a square-shaped planar inductor with an area of 16 × 16 mm² printed on a circuit board (PCB). Preliminary finite element analysis showed that the magnetic field around the inductor was tightened and amplified due to the presence of the GO layer. This result was confirmed by electrical measurements using a vector network analyzer (VNA), revealing that the GO led to an increase in the self-inductance due to its paramagnetic character. In fact, for a frequency of 1 MHz, the series resistance increased significantly by 32% compared to the initial value obtained without GO, while the inductance increased only by 0.18%. After CO₂ injection, a frequency screen ranging from 1 MHz to 200 MHz demonstrated that the effect of CO₂ is more relevant at low frequencies. Hence, measurements show that for 1 MHz, the series inductance and resistance decrease by about 9.33% and 31%, respectively, from their values measured after GO coating. Accordingly, this work highlights the relevance of the GO-coated inductor as a transducer for CO₂ detection working in AC regime.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Graphene oxide
• GO synthesis
• GO effect
• gas detection
• inductive transducer
• planar inductor

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the equipment staff at the Research Center in Microelectronics and Nanotechnology in Sousse (CRMN) for providing the necessary equipment for the experiments and measurements.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All experimental data from this study are available upon request from the corresponding author.

Author contribution

Sample preparation and experiments were done by MHS and NZ. Chemical data measurement and analysis were performed by MHS, AK, NZ, and AHS. Electrical data measurement and analysis were performed by MHS and FT. Data processing was done by MHS, AK, NZ, AHS, and FT. The first draft of the manuscript was written and revised by MHS, SG, and AK. FT was responsible for reviewing and finalizing the manuscript.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies involving humans or animals performed by any of the authors.