Detection of organic gases using TiO2 nanotube-based gas sensors

We fabricated porous gas sensing films composed of TiO2 nanotubes prepared by a hydrothermal treatment for the detection of organic gases, such as alcohol and toluene. The morphology of the sensing films was controlled with a ball-milling treatment and calcination at high temperature to improve the sensitivity of the films. The sensor using nanotubes with the ball-milling treatment exhibited the improved sensor responses to toluene at 500oC. The results obtained indicated the importance of the microstructure control of sensing layers in terms of particle packing density, pore size distribution, and particle size and shape for detecting large sized organic gas molecules.