Facile synthesis of In2O3 nanoparticles for sensing properties at low detection temperature

In2O3 nanoparticles are successfully prepared via a facile solvothermal method without any templates or surfactants at a rather low temperature (100 degrees C). The results of various physical characterizations revealed that the solvothermal precursor is irregular-shaped and the as -prepared In2O3 samples are constructed from uniform nanoparticles with unique diameter (20-30 nm) after calcining. Time-dependent experiment was carried out to understand morphology evolution during the calcining process. The In2O3 nanoparticles as novel gas sensors exhibit fast and high response as well as good selectivity toward NO2 gas at ppb level at a rather low operating temperature (60 degrees C). The sensing process is tentatively explained in terms of the adsorption-desorption mechanism and chemical kinetics theories. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.