Au nanoparticles modified MoO3 nanosheets with their enhanced properties for gas sensing

Two-dimensional nanostructures with controlled morphology and dimensionality make them a promising candidate for high-performance sensing materials. Meanwhile, surface modification with noble metals is considered as an effective strategy to enhance gas sensing performance of metal oxide-based gas sensors. In this work, a novel gas sensing material was synthesized by decorating Au nanoparticles on molybdenum oxide nanosheets. The morphology and structure of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The hexagonal MoO3 nanosheets are about 600 nm in diameter, and the scale of Au nanoparticles are around 10-15 nm. Furthermore, owing to the composite structure, the sensor based on Au@MoO3 nanocomposites showed superior gas sensing performance towards ethanol and it may have potential applications in the detection of ethanol vapors.