NH3 sensing properties of porous CuBr films prepared by spin-coating

Porous copper bromide (CuBr) films are highly advantageous for detecting ammonia (NH₃). The fabrication of porous CuBr films requires complex high-temperature processes or multistep processes. Herein, we report the uncomplicated preparation of porous CuBr films by a spin-coating method and the films’ excellent NH₃ sensing properties. The porous films were prepared by spin-coating 100, 150, and 200 mM CuBr solutions, and then dried in a vacuum oven for 2 h. All the films showed a high NH₃ response; in particular, the film prepared using a 100 mM CuBr solution showed an extremely high response (resistance ratio = 852) to 5 ppm NH₃. The film also showed fast response and recovery times, 272 s and 10 s respectively, even at room temperature. The outstanding NH3 sensing characteristics were explained in relation to the porosity and thickness of the prepared films. The high-performance NH₃ sensors used in this study can be used for both indoor air quality and environmental monitoring applications.