Two dimensional α-MoO3 nanoflakes obtained using solvent-assisted grinding and sonication method: Application for H2 gas sensing

A liquid-based organic solvent-assisted grinding and sonication method was adopted for the formation of two dimensional (2D) moderately hydrated alpha-MoO3 nanoflake suspensions, with a flake thickness in the order of similar to 1.4 nm. This thickness is equal to the largest unit cell parameter of alpha-MoO3. The implemented method had the advantage of simplicity and resulted in a high yield of nanoflakes that were highly crystalline across the planes. This method can be incorporated into 2D semiconducting material-enabled devices. Conductometric transduction templates based on drop-casted thin films of these 2D alpha-MoO3 flakes were developed for H-2 gas sensing. The sensors showed large responses to H2 gas with response and recovery time in the order of seconds. The impressive operation of these devices was attributed to the 2D flake-like structure of the thin films. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.