Enhanced NO2 gas-sensing properties of Au-Ag bimetal decorated MWCNTs/WO3 composite sensor under UV-LED irradiation

摘要

Novel NO2 gas sensors that were made of Ag, Au and Au-Ag bimetal particles modified composite of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/tungsten oxide (Ag/MWCNTs/WO3, Au/MWCNTs/WO3 and AuAg/MWCNTs/WO3) were fabricated for sensing ppb-level NO2 gas under ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) irradiation. The effects of Ag, Au and Au-Ag bimetal decoration and under UV-LED irradiation on the response of the Ag/MWCNTs/WO3, Au/MWCNTs/WO3 and Au-Ag/MWCNTs/WO3 sensors for sensing NO2 gas were studied. The gas-sensing properties in the detection of a low concentration of NO2 gas of the Au-Ag/MWCNTs/WO3 composite were superior to bare MWCNTs/WO3, Au/MWCNTs/WO3 and Ag/MWCNTs/WO3 under UV-LED irradiation. The Au-Ag/MWCNTs/WO3 composite sensor showed responses of 28-262 % at NO2 concentrations ranging from 100 to 500 ppb under UV-LED irradiation. These responses were 2-5 times higher than that of the bare MWCNTs/WO3 composite sensor at the same NO2 concentration range. The substantial improvement in the response of the bare MWCNTs/WO3 composite to NO2 gas by its decoration with Au-Ag bimetal particles may be attributed to the enhanced catalytically active sites and photocatalytic activity. A reasonable mechanism for enhancing sensitivity was proposed. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.