Metal-organic framework (MOF) films are essential for numerous sensor and device applications. However, metal-organic framework materials have poor machinability due to their predominant powder-like nature, and their presence as the active layer in a device can seriously affect the performance and utility of the device. Herein, active layers of field-effect transistor (FETs) devices and chemiresistor gas sensors with high performance were constructed by loading Cu3(HITP)2 (HITP = 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaiminotriphenylene) in situ-axial anchoring on oriented nanofiber arrays prepared via electrospinning. The strong interaction between polar groups on the polymer chains and metal ions promotes the nucleation of Cu3(HITP)2, steric hindrance makes particles of Cu3(HITP)2 with uniform size, morphology, and good crystallinity during nucleation by liquid phase epitaxial growth (LPE). Influences of differently-oriented Cu3(HITP)2 NFAs-based FETs on the electrical properties were studied, optimally oriented Cu3(HITP)2 NFAs-based FETs showed good mobility of 5.09 cm2/V·s and on/off ratio of 9.6 × 103. Moreover, excellent gas sensing response characteristics were exhibited in sensing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Chemiresistor gas sensors with high response value, faster response and recovery are widely suited for VOCs. It brings new inspirations for the design and utilization of electrically conductive MOFs as an active layer for FETs and sensor units for chemiresistor gas sensors.
Keywords: field-effect transistor; gas sensor; liquid epitaxial growth; metal–organic frameworks; oriented nanofiber arrays.