Core-shell Ag@In2O3 hollow hetero-nanostructures for selective ethanol detection in air

By applying the Ag@carbon nanospheres as self-sacrificial templates, Ag@In2O3 core-shell nanospheres (Ag@In2O3 CSNs) have been successfully prepared via the aging and subsequent annealing process. The formation and sensing performances of this Ag@In2O3 CSNs based sensor are systematically evaluated and analyzed in detail. Compared to pristine In2O3 nanospheres with solid and hollow inner structures, the as-prepared Ag@In2O3 CSNs exhibit the best response (similar to 72.56 to 50 ppm), especially in terms of the outstanding reusability as well as the excellent anti-interference to other biomarkers in human breath. Such virtues are owing to the unique structure (porous shell and internal voids) and the catalytic effect of encapsulated Ag nanoparticles, which provides considerable active centers and diffusion channels for ethanol. The investigation in this research may shed light on the fabrication of a novel In2O3-based nanocomposite for ethanol gas sensor detection.