Unique hierarchical Ce-doped NiO microflowers with enhanced gas sensing performance

Abstract

In this work, novel flower-like Ce-doped NiO hierarchical architectures were successfully prepared through a facile one-step hydrothermal route. Morphological and structural observations demonstrate that such microflower is assembled by a large amount of nanosheets, and the nanosheets is comprised of numerous nanowires which are randomly interwoven to each other. In comparison to the pure sample, the Ce-doped NiO microflowers exhibit superior ethanol sensing properties. The higher sensor response is primarily responsible for the unique hierarchical nanostructure and the change in effective hole concentration due to the incorporation of Ce into NiO.