Controllable biomolecule-assisted synthesis and gas sensing properties of In2O3 micro/nanostructures with double phases

In2O3 micro/ nanostructures including nanosheet-based microflowers, nanoparticle-based nanorods and nanoparticles with mixed hexagonal and cubic phases were fabricated by one-pot hydrothermal/solvothermal treatment of D-glucose/In(NO3)(3)center dot xH(2)O mixture using urea as a precipitating agent in water-ethanol mixed solution followed by calcination. The effect of solution on the fabrication of In(2)O(3)micro/nanostructures was investigated and a possible mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of In2O3 micro/nanostructures. The mixed hexagonal and cubic phases of In2O3 micro/nanostructures were further proved in Raman spectra. The gas sensor based on the nanosheet-based In2O3 microflowers exhibited excellent sensing properties for the detection of formaldehyde. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.