Enhanced trimethylamine gas-sensing performance of CeO2 nanoparticles-decorated MoO3 nanorods

The MoO 3 nanorods decorated with CeO 2 were successfully synthesized by a two-step hydrothermal method, and the microstructure and morphology of CeO 2 /MoO 3 were determined by XRD, XPS, SEM, and TEM. It can be confirmed by SEM that the CeO 2 nanoparticles of uniform size were successfully compounded with MoO 3 nanorods. According to the gas sensitivity test results, the response value of the CeO 2 /MoO 3 sensors to trimethylamine gas has been enhanced by about 20 times, and the excellent catalytic performance of CeO 2 and the conversion of the oxidation state of Ce ions have played a vital role. The analysis of XPS spectrum reveals the effect of the conversion of Ce 3+ ions and Ce 4+ ions on the enhancement of gas sensitivity. In addition, the gas-sensing mechanism of CeO 2 /MoO 3 is discussed based on the change of resistance value, which shows the great potential of CeO 2 in the field of gas sensing.