Rapid synthesis of rGO–MoO3 hybrids and mechanism of enhancing sensing performance to H2S

Abstract

Hybrids of reduced graphene oxide (rGO)–MoO₃ nanorods were synthesized successfully by a facile in situ solution growth method under a relatively low temperature of 150 °C for 1 h. The structure and properties of the hybrids have been characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, Raman, PL and XPS analysis. The sensing performance of pure MoO₃ and rGO–MoO₃ hybrids to H₂S were examined, the results indicate that the hybrids exhibit higher response and lower operating temperature compared with the pure MoO₃ nanorods, especially, the 2.5 wt% rGO–MoO₃ hybrid exhibits the highest sensitivity and the fastest response to H₂S, which makes them promising candidates in the field of gas sensors for detection of H₂S gas. The sensing mechanism for MoO₃ to H₂S which is enhanced is also discussed in detail from rGO action in the hybrid and formation of a hetero-junction at the interface of the hybrid.