Chemisorption vs. Physisorption in Perfluorinated Zn(II) Porphyrin–SnO2 Hybrids for Acetone Chemoresistive Detection

In this study, the integration of SnO₂ with a perfluorinated Zn(II) porphyrin derivative, namely ZnTPPF₂₀CN, was explored as a strategy to enhance the performance of chemoresistive sensors toward gaseous acetone detection. The ZnTPPF₂₀CN molecule was specifically designed with an ethynylphenyl-cyanoacrylic anchoring group and a benzothiadiazole (BTD) spacer, enabling its chemisorption onto the SnO₂ surface. Hybrid materials containing three different ZnTPPF₂₀CN-to-SnO₂ ratios (1:4, 1:32, 1:64) were fabricated and tested for acetone detection at 120 °C, both under dark conditions and LED illumination. The sensing behavior of these hybrids was compared with that of previously studied SnO₂ composites, incorporating physisorbed, unsubstituted ZnTPPF₂₀. Among the tested ratios, the 1:32 ZnTPPF₂₀CN/SnO₂ demonstrated superior acetone sensitivity compared to its unmodified counterpart, despite showing a lower intrinsic conductivity in air and a reduced electron transfer efficiency. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations provided insights into the possible anchoring modes and interfacial electronic interactions, helping to rationalize this counterintuitive observation. The enhanced sensing response was attributed to a more favorable balance between charge injection and the availability of SnO₂ electronic states, facilitated by the chemisorbed anchoring of ZnTPPF₂₀CN. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of molecular engineering, particularly in terms of molecular design, loading ratio, and anchoring mechanism, in modulating charge dynamics and optimizing the sensing efficiency of porphyrin/SnO₂ nanocomposites.