Hydrogen gas sensing performance of networked TeO2 nanobelt sensors enhanced by functionalization with Nb2O5

• TeO2 nanobelts finctionalized with Nb2O5 nanoparticles were prepared by a two-stage process.
• The functionalized sensor showed significantly enhanced responses to H2 than the pristine sensor.
• The former also showed more rapid response to H2 gas than the latter.
• The underlying mechanism for the enhanced sensing performance of the functionalized sensor is discussed.

TeO2 nanobelts functionalized with Nb2O5 nanoparticles were prepared by a two-stage process involving thermal evaporation of Te powders and solvothermal deposition of Nb2O5, and their H2 gas sensing properties were examined. The pristine and Nb2O5-functionalized TeO2 nanobelts exhibited responses of ∼337% and ∼1022%, respectively, to 10,000 ppm H2 at 175 °C. The pristine and Nb2O5-functionalized TeO2 nanobelt sensors showed the strongest response to H2 gas at 125 °C and 175 °C, respectively. The Nb2O5-functionalized TeO2 nanobelt sensor showed selectivity to H2 gas over other reducing gases such as H2S, CO, NH3, and C2H5OH at 175 °C. The underlying mechanism for the enhanced response of the Nb2O5-functionalized TeO2 nanobelt sensor to H2 gas is discussed.

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