Nanostructured flower like V2O5 thin films and its room temperature sensing characteristics

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) thin films were deposited on glass substrates using spray pyrolysis technique. Aqueous solution of ammonium vanadate with 0.1 M concentration was used to deposit V2O5 thin films at different substrate temperatures. The structural, morphological, electrical, optical and vapour sensing properties of the films were investigated. XRD patterns confirmed the polycrystalline nature of the films with orthorhombic structure. Crystallite size increased with an increase in the substrate temperature. SEM images showed the formation of films with flower like morphology. From the optical absorbance spectra, the optical band gap was determined and varied between 3.34 and 3.24 eV. The charge carrier concentration was found to be increased with substrate temperature. Room temperature xylene sensing characteristics of the films were investigated. The influence of substrate temperature on the vapour sensing characteristics of V2O5 is reported.