Rational construction of α-MoO3@WO3 nanosheets and its triethylamine sensing performances

Real-time monitoring of triethylamine (TEA) is critical to environmental safety and daily life. However, detailed challenges remain for TEA gas sensors, such as low-cost and facile synthetic methods, and low working temperatures. In this study, a combination of hydrothermal and wet chemical approaches is utilized for the rational construction of α-MoO3@WO3 with a sheet-like nanostructure. Additionally, the sensing performances towards triethylamine are investigated. According to the results, it was found that the α-MoO3@WO3 sensor has a higher response value (80.4) and faster response and recovery times (9/26 s) than those of pristine MoO3 at low optimum temperature (200 °C). Again, the α-MoO3@WO3 based sensor also demonstrated high selectivity to TEA as well as good stability. The enhancement of the MoO3@WO3 sensor's gas-sensitive mechanism may be attributed to the formation of n-n heterojunction between MoO3 and WO3 and the synergistic effect of both.