Synthesis of WO3 Nanorods and Their Excellent Ethanol Gas-Sensing Performance

WO3 nanorods were synthesized via a simple hydrothermal approach. Their microstructure and morphology were analyzed with x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The effects of reaction temperature, reaction time, and citric acid concentration, on the gas-sensing performance of WO3 nanorods were investigated. The optimized response value of WO3 sensor to ethanol gas (100 ppm) was 26.48, with a response time of 1 s under a low operating temperature (160 °C). The recovery capability and stability of the gas sensor were tested and discussed. Additionally, the working principle of WO3 sensor was proposed. In comparison to the sensors published by previous researchers, the WO3 sensor has shown great potential.