A Novel Ceramic Sensing Material for Acetone Detection from Asphalt

Abstract

A novel ceramic sensing material, orthorhombic molybdenum trioxide (a-MoO3) nanobelts, was successfully prepared through a simple hydrothermal strategy. And its crystalline phase and microstructures were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results indicate that the size of the a-MoO3 nanobeltsis 180-250 nm in width and several microns in length. Gas sensing performances of the as-synthesized a-MoO3 nanobelts towards acetone vapor which was a representative VOCs in asphalt were investigated. The a-MoO3 nanobelts based gas sensor exhibits superior response at the optimum operating temperature of 300 °C for 200 ppm acetone vapor and excellent stability. The gas sensing mechanism for the a-MoO3 nanobelts to acetone vapor was also discussed.