Improved acetone gas sensing performance based on optimization of a transition metal doped WO3 system at room temperature

This paper proposes an effective strategy of material system optimization to improve acetone gas sensing performance based on hydrothermally processed transition metal (Fe, Co or Ni)-doped WO3 materials. A detailed comparison of the capability of pure WO3 and X:WO3 (X = Fe, Co, Ni) to sense acetone gas at room temperature was performed. It was found that the sensitivity of Ni:WO3 nanoflowers to acetone was much higher than that of pure WO3, Fe:WO3 and Co:WO3 under white light irradiation. To obtain a highly sensitive acetone gas sensor, the molar doping ratio of Ni to WO3 was further optimized. It was found that 3%Ni:WO3 had the highest response-recovery speed and the best target gas selectivity. Acetone with a concentration as low as 2 ppm can be detected at room temperature (20 degrees C). The sensitivity enhancement mechanism of the Ni:WO3 gas sensor is also discussed. It is expected that under white light irradiation the proposed Ni-doped WO3 can be used as a highly sensitive and selective acetone gas sensor at room temperature.