Issue 44, 2014

Microwave-assisted growth of In2O3 nanoparticles on WO3 nanoplates to improve H2S-sensing performance

Abstract

Hierarchical In2O3@WO3 nanocomposites, consisting of discrete In2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) on single-crystal WO3 nanoplates, were synthesized via a novel microwave-assisted growth of In2O3 NPs on the surfaces of WO3 nanoplates that were derived through an intercalation and topochemical-conversion route. The techniques of XRD, SEM, TEM and XPS were used to characterize the samples obtained. The gas-sensing properties of In2O3@WO3 nanocomposites, together with WO3 nanoplates and In2O3 nanoparticles, were comparatively investigated using inorganic gases and organic vapors as the target substances, with an emphasis on H2S-sensing performance under low concentrations (0.5–10 ppm) at 100–250 °C. The results show that the In2O3 NPs with a size range of 12–20 nm are uniformly anchored on the surfaces of the WO3 nanoplates. The amounts of the In2O3 NPs can be controlled by changing the In3+ concentrations in their growth precursors. The In2O3@WO3 (In/W = 0.8) sample has highest H2S-sensing performance operating at 150 °C; its response to 10 ppm H2S is as high as 143, 4 times higher than that of WO3 nanoplates and 13 times that of In2O3 nanocrystals. However, the responses of the In2O3@WO3 sensors are less than 13 upon exposure to 100 ppm of CO, SO2, H2, CH4 and organic vapors, operating at 100–150 °C. The improvement in response and selectivity of the In2O3@WO3 sensors upon exposure to H2S molecules can be attributed to the synergistic effect of In2O3 NPs and WO3 nanoplates, hierarchical microstructures and multifunctional interfaces.

Graphical abstract: Microwave-assisted growth of In2O3 nanoparticles on WO3 nanoplates to improve H2S-sensing performance

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
05 Jul 2014
Accepted
18 Sep 2014
First published
07 Oct 2014

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014,2, 18867-18874

Author version available

Microwave-assisted growth of In2O3 nanoparticles on WO3 nanoplates to improve H2S-sensing performance

L. Yin, D. Chen, M. Hu, H. Shi, D. Yang, B. Fan, G. Shao, R. Zhang and G. Shao, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014, 2, 18867 DOI: 10.1039/C4TA03426K

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