Gas sensing properties of p-Co3O4/n-TiO2 nanotube heterostructures

Abstract

In this paper, we fabricated p-Co3O4/n-TiO2 heterostructures and investigated their gas sensing properties. The structural and morphological characterization were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis (XPS). The electrical properties of the heterostructure were studied within the temperature range from 293 K to 423 K. Changes in electrical properties and sensing behavior against reducing and oxidizing gases were attributed to the formation of p-n heterojunctions at the Co3O4 and TiO2 interface. In comparison with sensing performed with pristine TiO2 nanotubes (NTs), a significant improvement in H2 sensing at 200 °C was observed, while the sensing response against NO2 decreased for the heterostructures. Additionally, a response against toluene gas, in contrast to pristine TiO2 NTs, appeared in the Co3O4/TiO2 heterostructure samples.