CeO2 nanorods decorated In2O3 nanoparticles for enhanced low temperature detection of hydrogen

Abstract

Hydrogen (H2) detection sensors based on pure CeO2 nanorods (NRs) and In2O3-loaded CeO2 NRs with different In2O3 contents (5 wt%, 10 wt%, and 15 wt%) were investigated. The crystal phase evolution, morphology features, and response characteristics of the In2O3-loaded CeO2 NRs were analyzed in detail using characteristic techniques. Gas sensing results showed that the In2O3-loaded CeO2 gas sensors exhibited superior H2 sensing performances compared with pure CeO2 NRs under low operating temperature (100 °C). Notably, the gas sensors based on the 10 wt% In2O3-loaded CeO2 nanocomposite showed the most refined performance, with response values of 2.79 and 2.43 times higher than those of the pure CeO2 NRs sensors for 1000 ppm and 4000 ppm H2, respectively. The response values exhibited a linear relationship with the detection concentration. Moreover, the In2O3-loaded CeO2 gas sensor demonstrated enhanced H2 selectivity, good recyclability, and long-term stability. Finally, the improved gas sensing mechanism of the In2O3-loaded CeO2 gas sensor for H2 was also proposed.