Surface acoustic wave platform integrated with ultraviolet activated rGO-SnS2 nanocomposites to achieve ppb-level dimethyl methylphosphonate detection at room-temperature

Dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) is commonly used as an alternative for demonstrating to detect sarin, which is one of the most toxic but odorless chemical nerve agents. Among various types of DMMP sensors, those utilizing surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology provide notable advantages such as wireless/passive monitoring, digital output, and a compact, portable design. However, key challenges for SAW-based DMMP sensors operated at room temperature lies in simultaneous enhancement of sensitivities and reduction of detection limits. In this study, we developed a binary material strategy by combining reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and tin disulfide (SnS2) with (100)-facets orientation as sensing layers of SAW device for DMMP detection utilized at room temperature. Ultraviolet (UV) light was applied to activate the sensitive film and reduce the sensor's response time. The developed SAW DMMP sensor demonstrated a superior sensitivity (-1298.82 Hz/ppm), a low detection limit of 50 ppb, and a hysteresis below 1.5%, along with fast response/recovery time (39.2 s/28.4 s), excellent selectivity, long-term stability and repeatability. The formation of shrub-like rGO-SnS2 heterojunctions with abundant surface defects and large specific surface areas, high-energy (100) crystalline surfaces of SnS2, and photogenerated carriers generated by UV irradiation were pinpointed as the crucial sensing mechanisms. These factors collectively enhanced adsorption and reaction dynamics of DMMP molecules.