Enhanced C2H5OH sensing characteristics of nano-porous In2O3 hollow spheres prepared by sucrose-mediated hydrothermal reaction

In2O3 hollow spheres with shell thicknesses of ∼150 nm and ∼300 nm were prepared by the one-pot synthesis of indium-precursor-coated carbon spheres via hydrothermal reaction and subsequent removal of core carbon by heat treatment. The gas response (Ra/Rg, Ra: resistance in air, Rg: resistance in gas) of the thin hollow spheres to 100 ppm C2H5OH was 137.2 at 400 °C, which was 1.86 and 3.84 times higher than that of the thick hollow spheres and of the nanopowders prepared by precipitation, respectively. The gas sensing characteristics are discussed in relation to the shell configuration of the hollow spheres. The enhanced gas response of the hollow spheres was attributed to the effective diffusion of analyte gas toward the entire sensor surface via very thin and nano-porous shells.