文摘
In2O3 nanowires decorated with TeO2 nanobeads were synthesized by a facile single-step thermal evaporation process, and their acetone-gas-sensing properties were examined. The diameters and lengths of the In2O3 nanowires ranged from 10 to 20 nm and up to 100 μm, respectively, whereas the diameters of the TeO2 beads ranged from 50 to 200 nm. The TeO2-decorated In2O3 nanowire sensor showed stronger response to acetone gas than the pristine In2O3 nanowire sensor. The pristine and TeO2-decorated In2O3 nanowires exhibited sensitivity of ~10.13 and ~24.87, respectively, to 200 ppm acetone at 300 °C. The decorated nanowire sensor also showed much more rapid response and recovery than the latter. Both sensors showed the strongest response to acetone gas at 300 °C, respectively. The mechanism and origin of the enhanced acetone-gas-sensing performance of the TeO2-decorated In2O3 nanowire sensor compared to the pristine In2O3 nanowire sensor were discussed in detail. The enhanced sensing performance of the TeO2-decorated In2O3 nanowire is mainly due to the modulation of the potential barrier height at the TeO2–In2O3 interface, high catalytic activity of TeO2, and creation of active adsorption sites by incorporation of TeO2.