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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