Sub-ppm level NO2 sensing properties of polyethyleneimine-mediated WO3 nanoparticles synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal method

A novel sensing material of polyethyleneimine-mediated WO3 nanoparticles was prepared by a simple and efficient one-pot hydrothermal method. The structure and morphology characteristics of the as-prepared WO3 nanoparticles were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that the as-prepared WO3 nanomaterials were composed of highly dispersible WO3 nanoparticles, and these nanoparticles with the particle size in the range of 10–50 nm showed a monoclinic structure. NO2 sensing measurements demonstrated that WO3 nanoparticles-based gas sensor exhibited superior response, outstanding selectivity, excellent reversibility, and good long-term stability. The sensor response increased as NO2 concentration increased. The highest response value of 251.7 was achieved to 5 ppm NO2 at the optimal operating temperature of 100 °C. Especially, the sensor response could reach 3.2–50 ppb NO2. It also exhibited fast response and recovery times with a high sensor response even in a high-humidity environment. The excellent gas sensing properties of WO3 nanoparticles could be ascribed to their high effective surface areas as well as numerous oxygen vacancies, which foresee the great potential application for fast and effective detection of sub-ppm level NO2 under different humidity environments.