Spraying the Way Towards Gas-Sensitive Porous Materials: In-Depth Screening and Characterisation

This study explores the gas adsorption properties of porous materials. These materials possess an very high internal surface area: just one gram of powder can cover an area as large as a football pitch, offering a vast space for gas molecules to bind. To identify suitable candidates for gas sensors, we screened a series of powders, specifically covalent organic frameworks (COFs) and Prussian blue analogues (PBAs), for their interactions with various gases. From this screening, one specific COF demonstrated the optimal properties for use as a functional coating. By applying this material as a thin layer via spray technology, we demonstrate how porous powders can be transformed into a functional sensor platform. This approach provides a practical route towards utilizing gas-sensitive porous materials in real-world sensor applications.