Enhanced formaldehyde sensing properties of IrO2-loaded porous foam-like Ga1.4In0.6O3 nanofibers with ultrathin pore walls

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2018-01, Vol.732, p.856-862
• Main Authors: Gao, Qian, Ao, Saren, Chen, Hui, Zou, Xiaoxin, Wei, Cundi, Li, Guo-Dong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Formaldehyde; Gas sensor; IrO2; Porous nanofibers
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.10.265

IrO2-loaded porous foam-like Ga1.4In0.6O3 nanofibers with ultrathin pore walls were synthesized via a simple electrospinning and impregnation method for the detection of formaldehyde. This gas sensor based on IrO2-loaded Ga1.4In0.6O3 nanofibers showed excellent sensitivity and selectivity towards trace formaldehyde. Especially, the response of the gas sensor based on 1% IrO2-Ga1.4In0.6O3 nanofibers is as high as 46 towards 10 ppm formaldehyde, while it is only 7 for the gas sensor based on Ga1.4In0.6O3. Moreover, the gas sensor based on 1% IrO2-Ga1.4In0.6O3 exhibited remarkable selectivity towards formaldehyde. The high sensitivity and good selectivity of IrO2-loaded porous Ga1.4In0.6O3 nanofibers could be attributed to the specific catalytic activity of IrO2, the unique composition and the ultrathin structure of Ga1.4In0.6O3. •A facile synthetic route is presented to decorate IrO2 on porous Ga-In bimetallic oxide nanofibers.•1% IrO2-GIO showed high sensitivity, good selectivity, and low detection limit towards formaldehyde.•The gas sensing mechanism of GIO and IrO2-GIO was also proposed.