Surfactant-free hydrothermal synthesis and gas-sensing properties of NaBi(MoO4)2 nanocrystals

• A nanocrystal NaBi(MoO4)2 gas sensing material has been synthesized.
• The sensor based on NaBi(MoO4)2 shows good sensing properties to alcohols.
• The NaBi(MoO4)2 sensor exhibits selectivity to alcohols with negligible responses acetone.

To find novel materials for high performance gas sensors, NaBi(MoO4)2 nanocrystals were prepared by hydrothermal treatment and characterized. The NaBi(MoO4)2 gas-sensing material was composed of flakes with crystalline size of 14.2 nm. The sensor based on NaBi(MoO4)2 shows good sensing properties including selectivity, high sensitivity, low working temperature and rapid response to alcohols. The responses of NaBi(MoO4)2 sensor were 19.1 and 17.4 to 100 ppm ethanol and n-butanol, respectively, at the optimum working temperatures of 300 °C. The NaBi(MoO4)2 exhibits selectivity to alcohols with negligible responses to toluene and acetone. The NaBi(MoO4)2 nanocrystals could be a promising candidate for highly sensitive gas sensors.