Controllable synthesis of Y2O3 microstructures for application in cataluminescence gas sensing

Y(2)O(3) dumbbells, microspheres, and nanosheets were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal procedure followed by calcination. Electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and N(2) adsorption measurements were used to characterize the yttrium oxide microstructures. On the basis of a time-dependent study of nanostructure evolution and the effect of other processing parameters, a kinetic "homogeneous nucleation-self assembly-anisotropic growth" mechanism is proposed to explain the growth of these microstructures under hydrothermal conditions. The sensitivity of as-prepared Y(2)O(3) structures to a series of gaseous chemicals was examined by using a homemade cataluminescence sensing system. The designed cataluminescence sensor based on the yttrium oxide dumbbells shows good sensing performance for 16 common volatile organic compounds.