Evidence of catalytic activation of anatase nanocrystals by vanadium oxide surface layer: Acetone and ethanol sensing properties

Year: 2015

Authors: Epifani M., Comini E., Siciliano P., Faglia G.P., Morante J.R.

Autors Affiliation: CNR, IMM, I-73100 Lecce, Italy;‎ Univ Brescia, Dept Informat Engn, SENSOR Lab, I-25133 Brescia, Italy; CNR INO, I-25133 Brescia, Italy;‎ Inst Energy Res IREC, E-08930 Barcelona, Spain; Univ Barcelona, Dept Elect, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain

Abstract: TiO2 and TiO2-V-2 O-5 nanocrystals were prepared by coupling sol-gel and solvothermal methods, followed by heat treatment at 400 degrees C, after which the nanocrystal mean size was still about 5 nm. The materials were used to process chemoresistive sensors, which were tested to ethanol and acetone, with concentrations ranging from 100 to 500 ppm and from 25 to 100 ppm, respectively. The sensing data evidenced that the surface deposition of V2O5 onto the anatase TiO2 nanocrystals enhanced the sensor response up to almost two orders of magnitude for both gases. Moreover, the sensors behavior was completely inverted: with TiO2-V2O5, the highest responses were obtained at the lowest operating temperatures, contrarily to pure TiO2, which required very high operating temperatures. The comparison of the sensing data allowed concluding that the V2O5 deposition effect could be interpreted as a catalytic contribution, in terms of lowered activation energies of the involved reactions and more favored gas adsorption at lower operating temperatures with respect to pure TiO2. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Journal/Review: SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL

Volume: 217      Pages from: 193  to: 197

KeyWords: Nanomaterials; Catalytic effect; Additives; Surface modification
DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2014.07.118

Citations: 20
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