Enhanced gas sensing performance of SnO2/α-MoO3 heterostructure nanobelts

Extremely high sensitivity and low working temperature of gas sensors are realized from SnO2/alpha-MoO3 heterostructure nanobelts. Their sensitivity against 500 ppm ethanol is up to 67.76 at the working temperature of 300 degrees C, which is higher than that of bare alpha-MoO3 and SnO2 nanostructures. Also the working temperature can be lowered down to 120 degrees C. Such behaviors are attributed to the variation of the junction barrier at the SnO2/alpha-MoO3 interface. The present results imply that heterostructured 1D nanomaterials may yield gas sensors with improved characteristics, and can be applied to a wide range of gas sensors.