Architecture tailoring of MoO3 nanostructures for superior ethanol sensing performance

Abstract Alteration of the architecture of molybdenum oxide nanostructure from nanobelts to nanofibers has been achieved by applying frequency-dependent pulsed temperature during hydrothermal growth. The nanostructures was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction pattern and N 2 adsorption-desorption analyses. The results revealed that MoO 3 nanofibers had better crystalline properties, higher surface area and surface defects as compare to MoO 3 nanobelts. The MoO 3 nanofibers were used to sense volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOC sensing studies revealed that sensor using MoO 3 nanofibers offered a drastically enhanced response as compared to that with MoO 3 nanobelts. The superior sensing performance of the MoO 3 nanofiber sensor is attributed to the increase of surface area and surface defect sites in MoO 3 nanofibers.