Synthesis of In2O3 nanoparticle/TiO2 nanobelt heterostructures for near room temperature ethanol sensing†
Abstract
In2O3 nanoparticle/TiO2 nanobelt heterostructures are prepared via a facile hydrothermal strategy. Plenty of smaller In2O3 nanoparticles are uniformly deposited onto the surface of TiO2 nanobelts. Compared with pure TiO2 nanobelts and In2O3 nanoparticles, the obtained In2O3 nanoparticle/TiO2 nanobelt heterostructures exhibit enhanced ethanol sensing properties at a temperature as low as 45 °C and a low detection limit (1 ppm). The improved sensing properties are mainly attributed to the synergic effect of fast charge transfer of heterostructure and the formation of preferential adsorption sites by the small size of the In2O3 nanoparticles.