Hydrogen gas detection of Nb2O5 nanoparticle-decorated CuO nanorod sensors

• Published in: Metals and materials international Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 214 - 219
• Main Authors: Kheel, Hyejoon, Sun, Gun-Joo, Lee, Jae Kyung, Mirzaei, Ali, Choi, Seungbok, Lee, Chongmu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul The Korean Institute of Metals and Materials 01.01.2017; 대한금속·재료학회
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Engineering Thermodynamics; Heat and Mass Transfer; Machines; Magnetic Materials; Magnetism; Manufacturing; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Processes; Solid Mechanics; 재료공학; oxidation; scanning electron microscopy (SEM); electrical properties; semiconductors; nanostructured materials
• ISSN: 1598-9623; 2005-4149
• DOI: 10.1007/s12540-017-6343-3

Pristine and Nb 2 O 5 nanoparticles-decorated CuO nanorods were prepared successfully by a two step process: the thermal evaporation of a Cu foil and the spin coating of NbCl 5 solution on CuO nanorods followed by thermal annealing. X-ray diffraction was performed to examine the structure and purity of the synthesized nanoatuctures. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the morphology and shape of the nanostuctures. The Nb 2 O 5 nanoparticles-decorated CuO nanorod sensor showed responses of ~217.05-862.54%, response times of ~161-199 s and recovery times of ~163-171 s toward H 2 gas with concentrations in a range of 0.5 - 5% at the optimal working temperature of 300 °C. The Nb 2 O 5 nanoparticle-decorated CuO nanorod sensor showed superior sensing performance to the pristine CuO nanorod sensor for the same H 2 concentration range. The underlying mechanism for the enhanced hydrogen sensing performance of the CuO nanorods decorated with Nb 2 O 5 nanoparticles is discussed.