Synthesis and Characterization of Sustainable, Low-Cost, Biomass-Derived Carbon Films from Hevea Brasiliensis (Rubber) Wood for Environmentally Friendly Gas Sensors with Enhanced Selectivity and Sensitivity to Polar Vapors and Hazardous Gases

Year : 2025 | Volume : 12 | Issue : 01 | Page :
    By

    Chathuranga Rathnayake,

  • P.G.D.C.K. Karunarathna,

  • P.A.S.V. Dharmasena,

  • P. Samarasekara,

  1. Research assistant, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  2. Senior lecturer, Department of Nano Science Technology, Faculty of Technology, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Kuliyapitiya, Sri Lanka
  3. Research assistant, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  4. Senior Professor, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Hevea brasiliensis (rubber) wood sawdust was utilized to fabricate carbon gas sensors for detecting 1000 ppm of ethanol, methanol, acetone, carbon dioxide, and ammonia gases. The carbon particles were prepared by phosphoric acid impregnation followed by thermal activation and then fabricated into films on conductive and non-conductive substrates using the doctor blade method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed distinct graphitic features with peaks at the (002) and (100) planes, indicating partial graphitization. The crystallite size was larger in the shell-derived carbon (2.79 nm) compared to the core-derived carbon (2.14 nm), suggesting better crystallinity in the shell sample. The optical band gap, determined using UV-Visible spectroscopy, was 3.1 eV for the core-derived films and 2.98 eV for the shell-derived films, reflecting differences in their structural and electronic properties. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the core-derived films had smaller nanoscale particles (50–150 nm) with higher porosity (7.162%), enhancing gas adsorption and diffusion. In contrast, the shell-derived films contained larger particles (1–5 µm) and lower porosity (5.893%), due to greater binder encapsulation, which limited the availability of active sites for gas interactions. Gas sensitivity measurements at the room temperature revealed that core-derived films were most sensitive to ethanol (54.67%), followed by methanol (47.27%), and exhibited the fastest response (7 minutes) and recovery time (1 minute) for acetone. Shell-derived films showed similar trends with ethanol being the most sensitive (50.39%). Core-derived films exhibited superior gas sensitivity and faster response and recovery times, attributed to higher effective surface area owing to smaller particle size. However, shell-derived films showed quicker recovery times for certain vapors. This study highlights the potential of biomass-derived carbon materials as low-cost, eco-friendly sensors, particularly effective for detecting polar vapors like ethanol, methanol, and acetone.

Keywords: Hevea brasiliensis sawdust, gas sensitivity, biomass-derived carbon, response time, recovery time

[This article belongs to Journal of Thin Films, Coating Science Technology & Application ]

How to cite this article:
Chathuranga Rathnayake, P.G.D.C.K. Karunarathna, P.A.S.V. Dharmasena, P. Samarasekara. Synthesis and Characterization of Sustainable, Low-Cost, Biomass-Derived Carbon Films from Hevea Brasiliensis (Rubber) Wood for Environmentally Friendly Gas Sensors with Enhanced Selectivity and Sensitivity to Polar Vapors and Hazardous Gases. Journal of Thin Films, Coating Science Technology & Application. 2025; 12(01):-.
How to cite this URL:
Chathuranga Rathnayake, P.G.D.C.K. Karunarathna, P.A.S.V. Dharmasena, P. Samarasekara. Synthesis and Characterization of Sustainable, Low-Cost, Biomass-Derived Carbon Films from Hevea Brasiliensis (Rubber) Wood for Environmentally Friendly Gas Sensors with Enhanced Selectivity and Sensitivity to Polar Vapors and Hazardous Gases. Journal of Thin Films, Coating Science Technology & Application. 2025; 12(01):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jotcsta/article=2025/view=201694


References

  1. Tseng RL, Wu FC, Juang RS. Liquid-phase adsorption of dyes and phenols using pinewood-based activated carbons. Carbon 2003; 41(3): 487–495.
  2. Heibati B, Rodriguez-Couto S, Amrane A, Rafatullah M, Hawari A, Al-Ghouti MA. Uptake of Reactive Black 5 by pumice and walnut activated carbon: chemistry and adsorption mechanisms. J Ind Eng Chem 2014; 20: 2939–2947.
  3. Hajati S, Ghaedi M, Yaghoubi S. Local, cheep and nontoxic activated carbon as efficient adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of cadmium ions and malachite green: optimization by surface response methodology. J Ind Eng Chem 2015; 21: 760–767.
  4. Ulaganathan S, Govindan V. Removal of chromium from aqueous solutions using derris indica wood based activated carbon: adsorption batch studies. Environ Prot Eng 2013; 39(3): 21–29.
  5. Danish M, Hashim R, Ibrahim MNM, Othman Sulaiman O. Response surface methodology approach for methyl orange dye removal using optimized Acacia mangium wood activated carbon. Wood Sci Technol 2014; 48: 1085–1105.
  6. Ghaedi M, Golestani Nasab A, Khodadoust S, Rajabi M, Azizian S. Application of activated carbon as adsorbents for efficient removal of methylene blue: kinetics and equilibrium study. J Ind Eng Chem 2014; 20: 2317–2324.
  7. Omri A, Wali A, Benzina M. Adsorption of bentazon on activated carbon prepared from Lawsonia inermis wood: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies. [Article in press.:http://dx.doi.org]. Arab J Chem2012.
  8. Doke Kailas M, Khan Ejazuddin M. Equilibrium, kinetic and diffusion mechanism of Cr(VI) adsorption onto activated carbon derived from wood apple shell. [Article in Press: http://dx.doi.org]. Arab J Chem2012.
  9. Gueye M, Richardson Y, Kafack FT, Blin J. High efficiency activated carbons from African biomass residues for the removal of chromium(VI) from wastewater. J Environ Chem Eng 2014; 2: 273–281.
  10. Venkatesan G, Senthilnathan U, Rajam S. Cadmium removal from aqueous solutions using hybrid eucalyptus wood based activated carbon: adsorption batch studies. Clean Technol Environ Policy 2014; 16: 195–200.
  11. Pirsaheb M, Rezai Z, Mansouri AM, Rastegar A, Alahabadi A, Sani AR, Sharafi K. Preparation of the activated carbon from India shrub wood and their application for methylene blue removal: modeling and optimization. Desalin Water Treat 2015; 57(13): 5888–5902
  12. Ghaedi M, Rahimi MR, Ghaedi AM, Tyagi I, Agarwal S, Gupta VK. Application of least squares support vector regression and linear multiple regression for modeling removal of methyl orange onto tin oxide nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon and activated carbon prepared from Pistacia atlantica wood. J Colloid Interface Sci 2016; 461: 425–434.
  13. Heibati B, Rodriguez-Couto S, Al-Ghouti MA, Asif M, Tyagi I, Agarwal S, Gupta VK. Kinetics and thermodynamics of enhanced adsorption of the dye AR 18 using activated carbons prepared from walnut and poplar woods. J Mol Liq 2015; 208: 99-105.
  14. Kumar BGP, Miranda LR, Velan M. Adsorption of Bismark Brown dye on activated carbons prepared from rubberwood sawdust (Hevea brasiliensis) using different activation methods. J Hazard Mater 2005; 126(1–3): 63–70.
  15. Shaaban A, Se SM, Ibrahim IM, Ahsan Q. Preparation of rubber wood sawdustbased activated carbon and its use as a filler of polyurethane matrix composites for microwave absorption. New Carbon Mater 2015; 30(2): 167-175.
  16. Kalavathy MH, Karthikeyan T, Rajgopal S, Miranda LR. Kinetic and isotherm studies of Cu(II) adsorption onto H3PO4-activated rubber wood sawdust. J Colloid Interface Sci 2005; 292(2): 354–362.
  17. Kalavathy MH, Regupathi I, Pillai MG, Miranda LR. Modelling, analysis and optimization of adsorption parameters for H3PO4 activated rubber wood sawdust using response surface methodology (RSM). Colloids Surf B: Biointerfaces 2009; 70(1): 35–45.
  18. Krishnan A, Sreejalakshmi K, Varghese KG, Anirudhan TS. Removal of edta from aqueous solutions using activated carbon prepared from rubber wood sawdust: kinetic and equilibrium modeling. Clean – Soil, Air, Water 2010; 38(4): 361–369.
  19. Garzella C, Comini E, Frigeri C, Sberveglieri G. TiO2 thin films by a novel sol–gel processing for gas sensor applications. Sens. Actuators B 2000; 68: 189–196.
  20. Sahm T, Madler L, Gularo A, Barsan N, Patsinis SE, Weimar U. Flame spray synthesis of tin dioxide nanoparticles for gas sensing. Sens. Actuators B 2004; 98: 148–153.
  21. Kida T, Nishiyama A, Yuasa M, Shimaneo K, Yamazoe N. Highly sensitive NO2 sensors using lamellar-structured WO3 particles prepared by an acidification method. Sens. Actuators B: Chemical 2009; 135: 568–574.
  22. Gerlitz RA, Benkstein KD, Lahr DL, Hertz JL, Montgomery CB, Bonevich JE, Semancik S, Tarlov MJ. Fabrication and gas sensing performance of parallel assemblies of metal oxide nanotubes supported by porous aluminum oxide membranes. Sens. Actuators B 2009; 136: 257–264.
  23. Yuasa M, Masaki T, Kida T, Shimanoe K, Yamazoe N. Nanosized PdO loaded SnO2 nanoparticles by reverse micelle method for highly sensitive CO gas sensor. Sens. Actuators B 2009; 136: 99–104.
  24. Yang F, Guo Z. Engineering NiO sensitive materials and its ultra-selective detection of benzaldehyde. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 2016; 467: 192–202.
  25. Samarasekara P, Yapa NUS. Effect of sputtering conditions on the gas sensitivity of Copper Oxide thin films. Sri Lankan Journal of Physics 2007; 8: 21-27.
  26. Girgis BS, Temerk YM, Gadelrab MM, Abdullah ID. X-ray diffraction patterns of activated carbons prepared under various conditions. Carbon letters 2007; 8: 95-100.
  27. Farma R, Wahyuni F, Awitdrus. Physical properties analysis of activated carbon from oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber on methylene blue adsorption. Journal of Technomaterial Physics 2019; 1: 67-73.
  28. Russo C, Apicella B, Tregrossi A, Ciajolo A, Le KC, Török S, Bengtsson PE. Optical band gap analysis of soot and organic carbon in premixed ethylene flames: comparison of in-situ and ex-situ absorption measurements. Carbon 2020; 158: 89-96.
Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 12
Issue 01
Received 14/02/2025
Accepted 21/02/2025
Published 22/02/2025
Publication Time 8 Days
240

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics