Facile synthesis and enhanced toluene gas sensing performances of Co3O4 hollow nanosheets

Co3O4 hollow nanosheets have been successfully fabricated by a mild hydrothermal method. The as-prepared Co3O4 hollow nanosheets are characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). When applied as a gas sensing material, Co3O4 hollow nanosheet based gas sensor shows an enhanced gas sensing performance toward toluene gas, including a better toluene gas selectivity compared to other six reducing gases, much faster response/recovery speed (1 s/9 s) and well stability and repeatability at an optimal working temperature of 200 degrees C. The enhanced toluene gas sensing properties are attributed to the hollow sheet-like structures and catalysis characteristics of p-type semiconductor Co3O4 . (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.