Room temperature NO2-sensing properties and mechanism of the sensors based on tungsten oxide nanowires/single-wall carbon nanotubes composites

Abstract

One-dimensional tungsten oxide nanowires are synthesized by the solvothermal method. The sensors based on tungsten oxide nanowires/single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) composites are fabricated by introducing SWNT, and their NO2 sensing properties are evaluated at room temperature. X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscope characterizations indicate that the as-synthesized nanowires are monoclinic W18O49, and SWNTs are embedded within the nanowire matrix in the prepared tungsten oxide nanowires/SWNT composites. The tungsten oxide nanowires/SWNT composites-based sensors show high sensitivity, good selectivity and super fast response to NO2 gas at room temperature. The NO2 sensing properties of the sensors increase with the decrease of SWNT content. The sensing mechanism of the composites-based sensor is discussed and it is thought that the introduction of SWNT induces the formation of a large number of p-n hetero junctions and cross-linked diffusion channels in the structure of the composites, which are responsible for the good NO2 sensing properties at room temperature.