Ag nanoparticles-decorated α-MoO3 nanorods for remarkable and rapid triethylamine-sensing response boosted by pulse-heating technique

Surface interaction between the target vapor and metal oxides can be boosted by noble metal-decorating. The surface effect can contribute to high gas-response but leads to slow recovery rate. In this paper, the Ag nanoparticles (NPs) with sizes about ∼20 nm were uniformly coated onto acidic α-MoO₃ nanorods through a wet-chemical reduction method at 50 °C. After sensing assessment for triethylamine (TEA), the optimal sensor based on 2 mol% AgNPs-decorated α-MoO₃ nanorods shows the highest response (R_a/R_g = 408.6 to 100 ppm TEA) at 200 °C among the pure α-MoO₃ and the other AgNPs/α-MoO₃ nanorods. In addition, this sensor depicts a fast response time (3 s) towards 100 ppm TEA, but its recovery time is rather long. The recovery time can be improved (less than 2 min) using pulse-heating strategy at 300 °C in air for 1 min. Moreover, this sensor displays an ultrahigh selectivity towards TEA at the existence of many interfering gases (including NH₃, H₂S, formaldehyde, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, and toluene). On basis of the depletion layer model and spillover effect of AgNPs, the enhanced sensing response towards TEA can be illustrated in detail. This work may open an avenue for designing gas sensor with high response and fast detection rate.