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A highly stable and sensitive ethanol sensor based on Ru-decorated 1D WO3 nanowires
Jianjun Li1, Qiongling Ding1, Xichao Mo1
1School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou University Lanzhou 730000 China wyr@lzu.edu.cn.
RSC Advances
|May 2, 2022
Summary
Noble metal catalysts like Ruthenium (Ru) significantly enhance tungsten trioxide (WO3) nanowire sensors for ethanol detection. This study demonstrates improved sensitivity, lower detection limits, and stability for WO3-based gas sensors.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical Sensing
Background:
- Tungsten trioxide (WO3) nanowires are used in gas sensors.
- Noble metal catalysts can improve sensor performance.
- Ruthenium (Ru) is a promising catalyst for gas adsorption and reactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To decorate WO3 nanowires with Ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles.
- To investigate the effect of Ru decoration on ethanol sensing properties of WO3 nanowire sensors.
- To optimize sensor performance at lower operating temperatures.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of one-dimensional WO3 nanowires using electrospinning and UV irradiation.
- Uniform decoration of WO3 nanowires with small Ru nanoparticles.
- Fabrication and testing of a gas sensor based on Ru-decorated WO3 nanowires for ethanol detection.
Main Results:
- Ru decoration did not alter the nanowire morphology.
- A sensor with 4% Ru nanowires exhibited a 47-fold increase in response to 100 ppm ethanol (response ~120).
- The sensor achieved a low detection limit of 221 ppb for ethanol at 200 °C, with excellent repeatability, stability, and fast response-recovery.
Conclusions:
- Uniformly distributed Ru nanoparticles enhance the ethanol sensing performance of WO3 nanowire sensors.
- The improved performance is attributed to Ru's sensitization and catalytic effects, stable WO3 morphology, and efficient atomic utilization.
- This strategy offers a promising approach for developing high-performance WO3-based ethanol sensors.
