Cadmium metavanadate mixed oxide nanorods for the chemiresistive detection of methane molecules

Abstract

Mixed transition metal oxides (MTMOs) have recently been explored as building blocks for gas sensing applications due to their enhanced sensing characteristics. Here, we demonstrate the application of a co-sputtered V₂O₅–CdO thin film as a novel chemiresistive sensor for the detection of methane (CH₄) gas. From X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies, the mixed phase was identified as polycrystalline cadmium metavanadate (CdV₂O₆), and from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies, the clear existence of V⁵⁺ and Cd²⁺, corresponding to V₂O₅–CdO, was observed. The obtained mixed phase featured fused nanorod-like structure with ∼450 nm thickness. By monitoring the sequential sensing characteristics over various temperature (RT-150 °C) and concentration (25–500 ppm) range, the optimum operating temperature (100 °C) was identified. The polycrystalline V₂O₅–CdO sensor exhibited a response of ∼1.72% towards 25 ppm CH₄ at 100 °C. The use of evenly co-sputtered semiconductive (Cd²⁺ and V⁵⁺) nanorods will provide advanced routes towards the development of various devices based on MTMOs.