Synthesis of NiMoO4-functionalized MoO3 nanorods with enhanced TMA gas sensing properties

Abstract

The development of outstanding high-performance gas sensors for detecting trimethylamine (TMA) gas has attracted broad interest. Herein, novel one dimensional (1D) NiMoO4-functionalized MoO3 nanorods were successfully synthesized by simple two-step hydrothermal and solvothermal routs. The as-synthesized NiMoO4-functionalized MoO3 nanorods exhibit a significantly enhanced TMA sensing properties relative to that of the MoO3 nanorods. The response value of 1-NiMoO4/MoO3 sensor to 10 ppm TMA at 200 °C is 12.1, which is about 2.3 times higher than that of MoO3 sensor (5.5 at 200 °C). In addition, 1-NiMoO4/MoO3 sensor also has high selectivity, good repeatability and stability, sub-ppm-level detection limit (1.6 to 0.3 ppm), fast response recovery speed, and good long-term stability. The outstanding sensing performance of 1-NiMoO4/MoO3 sensor in TMA detection is mainly due to the synergistic effect of unique rod-like structure, substantial resistance modulation effect of heterostructures, strong oxygen adsorption capacity, catalytic effect of the NiMoO4. This work provides an interesting perspective for developing high-performance gas sensor for TMA detection.