Synthesis and low temperature methane sensing performance of Pd modified In2O3 microspheres

This paper investigated the methane (CH4) gas sensing performance of Pd/In2O3 composites, fabricated by a simple solvothermal method. The morphology, composition and nanostructure of the synthesized materials were characterized and analyzed by XRD, FESEM, TEM, EDS and XPS. Compared with the pure In2O3, 6.0 at% Pd/In2O3 microspheres presented a better gas sensing performance to CH4. The response value of 6.0 at% Pd/In2O3 microspheres to 500 ppm CH4 was 15.317 at 50 degrees C. Besides, the sensor based on 6.0 at% Pd/In2O3 has a low detection limit (as low as 1.78 ppm). At the same time, the sensor has good selectivity, reproducibility and long-term stability. The enhanced gas sensing performance could be mainly ascribed to chemical catalysis and spillover effects of Pd nanoparticles as well as the Schottky Barrier between Pd and In2O3.

Automated summary

This paper investigated the methane gas sensing performance of Pd/In2O3 composites prepared by solvothermal method. The synthesized materials were characterized by XRD, FESEM, TEM, EDS, and XPS. The results showed that 6.0 at% Pd/In2O3 microspheres exhibited better gas sensing performance to CH4 compared to pure In2O3. The sensor based on 6.0 at% Pd/In2O3 showed a low detection limit, good selectivity, reproducibility, and long-term stability. The enhanced sensing performance was mainly attributed to the chemical catalysis and spillover effects of Pd nanoparticles, as well as the Schottky Barrier between Pd and In2O3.