Effect of Crystal Defect on Gas Sensing Properties of Co3O4 Nanoparticles

Crystal growth-controlled Co3O4 nanoparticles were prepared to examine gas sensing properties. A cube-like, an irregular shaped, and three kinds of raspberry-type structures were observed by morphology analysis. The raspberry-type structures have an expanded lattice volume with a large oxygen deficiency area, and the cube-like structure has a contracted lattice volume as compared to the irregular shaped structure. The raspberry-type structures exhibited a higher sensor signal response than the others. A relationship between sensor properties and crystal defect was investigated, and it was revealed that the gas selectivity to a high dipole moment value of a reducing gas molecule increased with increasing oxygen deficiency area of the Co3O4 nanoparticle. It was considered that the oxygen deficiency area acted as an important reaction site, which can be attributed to the selective reaction of the Co3O4 nanoparticle with gas molecules.