Preparation of Cu<sub>2</sub>O (Cu)/MWCNTs Composite Particles and Their Gas Sensor Properties

Abstract

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were embedded in cuprous oxide and copper to give ternary (Cu2O (Cu))/MWCNTs composites, Cu (CH3COO) 2•H2O and the treated MWCNTs were used as source precursor for producing composite particles by polyol method. Ethylene glycol (EG) was used as solvent and reducing agent. The products were characterized through scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results have shown that the MWCNTs are embedded into the cuprous oxide and copper spheres homogeneously. At room temperature, the composite materials to the NOx have excellent gas sensitive response contrast to NH3, CO, H2. The concentration of NOx is 700 ppm, the maximum value of Cu2O/MWCNTs vs. the NOx gas sensor response sensitivity is 20.3 %, and gas sensor response has certain selectivity.