Microwave Synthesized 2D WO3 Nanosheets for VOCs Gas Sensors

Abstract

As an n-type semiconductor material, tungsten oxide (WO3) has good application prospects in the field of gas sensing. Herein, using oxalic acid (OA), citric acid (CA) and tartaric acid (TA) as auxiliary agents, three homogeneous tungsten oxide nanosheets were prepared by the rapid microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The potential exhaled gases of various diseases were screened for the gas sensitivity test. Compared with WO3-OA and WO3-TA, WO3-CA exhibits significant sensitivity to formaldehyde, acetone and various alkanes. Photoluminescence (PL) chromatography and photoelectric properties show that its excellent gas sensitivity is due to its abundant oxygen vacancies and high surface charge migration rate, which can provide more preferential reaction sites with gas molecules. The experiment is of great significance for the sensor selection of the large disease exhaled gas sensor array.