Template-free synthesis of vanadium sesquioxide (V2O3) nanosheets and their room-temperature sensing performance

Abstract

Until recently, it has been relatively hard to prepare vertically aligned vanadium sesquioxide (V₂O₃) nanosheets on glass substrates due to their extreme sensitivity to the atmosphere, doping, external pressure, and temperature. In this study, we present a simple one-step sputtering technique for the preparation of high-density vertically aligned V₂O₃ nanosheets on glass substrates without the use of any catalyst or template. To date, this structure has not been achieved using the V₂O₃ phase through sputtering. The definite oxidation state and phase of V₂O₃ with V₃O₅ inclusions were confirmed from the binding energies of the V2p_3/2 and O1s peaks via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The growth mechanism of nanosheets has been briefly explained. In this way, hierarchical V₂O₃ nanosheets interconnected with each other, which would allow easy electron transport between electrodes, favour remarkable sensing performance. The nanosheets exhibited trace-level ammonia (NH₃) detection under ambient conditions for a wide concentration range of 10–500 ppm. Moreover, the selectivity and stability of the V₂O₃ nanosheets was studied. The present study may permit the design and fabrication of new electronic materials with multiple advantages based on V₂O₃ nanosheets.