Ethanol sensing properties and reduced sensor resistance using porous Nb2O5-TiO2 n-n junction nanofibers

One-dimensional (1D) and porous Nb2O5-TiO2 n-n junction nanofibers with different Nb molar ratios have been synthesized by a simple electrospinning approach. A decrease in the average grain size and consequently an increase in the specific surface area were observed due to the introduction of Nb2O5 into TiO2 nanofibers. In comparison with pure TiO2 nanofibers, the Nb2O5-TiO2 nanofibers exhibited improved ethanol sensing response and a reduction in electrical resistance. The optimum operation temperature was reduced from 300 degrees C for pure TiO2 to 250 degrees C for Nb2O5-TiO2. The best sensing property was found for Nb2O5-TiO2 with 6 mol% Nb2O5, showing the highest response of 21.64-500 ppm ethanol at 250 degrees C, which was 2.79 times as high as that of pure TiO2 nanofibers at 300 degrees C. The reduction of Nb2O5-TiO2 based sensor resistance was attributed to the substitution of Ti4+ by Nb5+ ions and the formation of n-n junctions between Nb2O5 nanoparticles and TiO2 nanoparticles. The enhancement sensing mechanism of Nb2O5-TiO2 nanofibers was mainly ascribed to the enhanced resistance modulation owing to the substitution of Ti4+ by Nb5+ ions, formation of n-n junctions, and high surface area as well as small grain size of Nb2O5-TiO2 nanofibers.