Jiran Liang

Room temperature NO2 gas sensing of Au-loaded tungsten oxide nanowires/porous silicon hybrid structure*

In this work, we report an enhanced nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas sensor based on tungsten oxide (WO3) nanowires/porous silicon (PS) decorated with gold (Au) nanoparticles. Au-loaded WO3 nanowires with diameters of 10 nm–25 nm and lengths of 300 nm–500 nm are fabricated by the sputtering method on a porous silicon substrate. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) micrographs show that Au nanoparticles are uniformly distributed on the surfaces of WO3 nanowires. The effect of the Au nanoparticles on the NO2-sensing performance of WO3 nanowires/porous silicon is investigated over a low concentration range of 0.2 ppm–5 ppm of NO2 at room temperature (25 °C). It is found that the 10-A Au-loaded WO3 nanowires/porous silicon-based sensor possesses the highest gas response characteristic. The underlying mechanism of the enhanced sensing properties of the Au-loaded WO3 nanowires/porous silicon is also discussed.

Enhanced luminous transmittance of thermochromic VO2 thin film patterned by SiO2 nanospheres

In this study, an ordered SiO2 nanosphere array coated with vanadium dioxide (VO2) has been fabricated to enhance transmittance with the potential application as an energy-efficient coating in the field of smart windows. SiO2 arrays were formed using the methods of self-assembly, and VO2 thin films were prepared by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) of sputtered vanadium films. VO2@SiO2 arrays were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, a four-point probe, and UV-vis-NIR spectrophotometry. Compared with the planar films, the films deposited on 300 nm diameter SiO2 nanospheres can offer approximately 18% enhancement of luminous transmission (Tlum) because the diameter is smaller than the given wavelength and the protuberance of the surface array behaves as a gradation of refractive index producing antireflection. The solar regulation efficiency was not much deteriorated.

Preparation and room temperature NO2-sensing performances of porous silicon/V2O5 nanorods*

In this paper, porous silicon/V2O5 nanorod composites are prepared by a heating process of as-sputtered V film on porous silicon (PS) at 600 °C for different times (15, 30, and 45 min) in air. The morphologies and crystal structures of the samples are investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), x-ray diffractometer (XRD), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectrum (RS). An improved understanding of the growth process of V2O5 nanorods on PS is presented. The gas sensing properties of samples are measured for NO2 gas of 0.25 ppm~3 ppm at 25 °C. We investigate the effects of the annealing time on the NO2-sensing performances of the samples. The sample obtained at 600 °C for 30 min exhibits a very strong response and fast response-recovery rate to ppm level NO2, indicating a p-type semiconducting behavior. The XPS analysis reveals that the heating process for 30 min produces the biggest number of oxygen vacancies in the nanorods, which is highly beneficial to gas sensing. The significant NO2 sensing performance of the sample obtained at 600 °C for 30 min probably is due to the strong amplification effect of the heterojunction between PS and V2O5 and a large number of oxygen vacancies in the nanorods.

Effect of Au on the Performance of Porous Silicon/V2O5 Nanorods Heterojunctions to NO2 Gas

A novel composite of Au-functionalized porous silicon (PS)/V2O5 nanorods (PS/V2O5:Au) was prepared to detect NO2 gas. PS/V2O5 nanorods were synthesized by a heating process of pure vanadium film on PS, and then the obtained PS/V2O5 nanorods were functionalized with dispersed Au nanoparticles. Various analytical techniques, such as field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), have been employed to investigate the properties of PS/V2O5:Au. Herein, the PS/V2O5:Au sample exhibited improved NO2-sensing performances in response, stability and selectivity at room temperature (25∘C), compared with the pure PS/V2O5 nanorods. These phenomena were closely related to not only the dispersed Au nanoparticles acting as a catalyst but also the p-n heterojunctions between PS and V2O5 nanorods. Whereas, more Au nanoparticles suppressed the improvement of response to NO2 gas.