Ordered Mesoporous In2O3: Synthesis by Structure Replication and Application as a Methane Gas Sensor

The synthesis and characterization of ordered mesoporous In2O3 materials by structure replication from hexagonal mesoporous SBA-15 silica and cubic KIT-6 silica is presented. Variation of the synthesis parameters allows for I different pore sizes and pore wall thicknesses in the products. The In2O3 samples turn out to be stable up to temperatures between 450 degrees C and 650 degrees C; such high thermal stability is necessary for their application as gas sensors. Test measurements show a high sensitivity to methane gas in concentrations relevant for explosion prevention. The sensitivity is shown to be correlated not only with the surface-to-volume ratio, but also with the nanoscopic structural properties of the materials.