Density functional theory study of NO2-sensing mechanisms of pure and Ti-doped WO3 (002) surfaces

Abstract

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are employed to explore the NO2-sensing mechanisms of pure and Ti-doped WO3 (002) surfaces. When Ti is doped into the WO3 surface, two substitution models are considered: substitution of Ti for W6c and substitution of Ti for W5c. The results reveal that substitution of Ti for 5-fold W forms a stable doping structure, and doping induces some new electronic states in the band gap, which may lead to changes in the surface properties. Four top adsorption models of NO2 on pure and Ti-doped WO3 (002) surfaces are investigated: adsorptions on 5-fold W (Ti), on 6-fold W, on bridging oxygen, and on plane oxygen. The most stable and likely NO2 adsorption structures are both N-end oriented to the surface bridge oxygen O1c site. By comparing the adsorption energy and the electronic population, it is found that Ti doping can enhance the adsorption of NO2, which theoretically proves the experimental observation that Ti doping can greatly increase the WO3 gas sensor sensitivity to NO2 gas.