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Cited by 20Gas Sensing Nanomaterials and SensorsElectrochemical sensors and biosensorsConducting polymers and applications

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Innovative self-assembled silver nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide hydrogel nanocomposite for improved electrochemical hydrogen generation and sensing

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Makhado, Edwin, Seleka, Wilson M.·2025·Scientific Reports
DOI 10.1038/s41598-025-13976-3PMC PMC12325909
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Abstract

Conductive hydrogels (CHs) are widely studied for flexible sensors in hydrogen energy applications due to their excellent conductivity, flexibility, and detection capabilities. However, most CH-based sensors suffer from low sensitivity, poor stability, and weak tensile strength. Furthermore, they often rely on non-biodegradable synthetic polymers, limiting their practical applications. This study utilizes Ag@rGO hydrogel nanocomposite blended with cellulose as an electrochemical sensor for hydrogen gas detection at ambient temperature, considering its higher catalytic activity, favorable surface area, and conductivity to overcome existing limitations. Nonetheless, given that cellulose serves as a binding agent in the formation of hydrogel, its characteristics like biodegradability, compatibility, and the ability to react to various chemical systems are transferred to the surface of the Ag@rGO hydrogel-based sensor. The measured sensitivity for hydrogen detection of the Ag@rGO nanocomposite and Ag@rGO hydrogel nanocomposite was found to be 188.38 and 329.85 µA.M, respectively. The limits of detection were recorded at 0.92 and 0.63 µM, with response/recovery times of 0.6/0.9 s and 0.3/0.6 s. The proposed electrochemical sensor offers an exciting approach for the detection of hydrogen gas. The sensor was fabricated and its microstructure characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Its electrochemical performance, sensing efficiency, interference resistance, and stability were assessed using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). This study explores the use of biopolymer-blended conductive hydrogels as innovative channel materials for developing gas sensors that are both highly flexible and sensitive.

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  • The IR spectra of CNFs showed O-H stretching vibrations generated a notable absorption band between 3664 and 3028 cm−1.

    “The IR spectra of CNFs showed are O–H stretching vibrations generated a notable absorption band between 3664 and 3028 cm− 1 [25].”

    From Dual-function aerogel electrocatalyst enabling efficient hydrogen production and ambient-temperature hydrogen detection (2026) · cites this paper as [25]

    The FTIR analysis reports a notable O–H stretching peak in cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) around 3450 cm−1. It does not report the claimed absorption-band range of 3664–3028 cm−1; its separate 3000–3600 cm−1 observation concerns reduced absorbance after hydrogel formation. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Pristine CNFs show significant weight loss between 280 and 370 ◦C, linked to pyrolytic depolymerisation and dehydration, with limited char residue at 700 ◦C.

    “Pristine CNFs show significant weight loss between 280 and 370 ◦C, linked to pyrolytic depolymerisation and dehydration, with limited char residue at 700 ◦C [25].”

    From Dual-function aerogel electrocatalyst enabling efficient hydrogen production and ambient-temperature hydrogen detection (2026) · cites this paper as [25]

    The Results and discussion > FTIR analysis section discusses cellulose nanofibers’ infrared peaks, not their thermal weight loss. Searches for 280–370 °C, 700 °C, thermogravimetric analysis, pyrolytic depolymerisation, and char residue found no passage in our copy addressing the claimed measurements or mechanism; page numbers were not available. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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Metadata

Authors
Makhado, E., & Seleka, W. M.
Affiliations
University of Limpopo (ZA)
Corresponding author
  • Makhado, Edwin
  • Seleka, Wilson M.
ORCID
Venue
Scientific Reports
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2025-08-05
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pages
28595-28595
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41598-025-13976-3
PMC
PMC12325909
OpenAlex
W4412992764
Cited by
20
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 3
FWCI
4.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
NRF: Thuthuka Rating Track (TTK240408212927)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Gas Sensing Nanomaterials and Sensors
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Analytical Chemistry › Electrochemical sensors and biosensors
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Conducting polymers and applications
Keywords
silver nanoparticles, reduced graphene oxide, conductive hydrogels, cellulose, hydrogen detection, electrochemical hydrogen sensor, hydrogen production, nanocomposite hydrogels, flexible sensors, hydrogen evolution catalysis

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