NO2Sensing Properties of β-Bi2O3Nanowires Sensor Coated with Pd Nanoparticles

Pd-functionalized ${\beta}-Bi_2O_3$ nanowires are synthesized by thermal evaporation of Bi powder using VLS mechanism followed by Pd coating and annealing. In this study, sensing properties of Pd-functionalized ${\beta}-Bi_2O_3$ nanowires sensor to selected concentrations of $NO_2$ gas were examined. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the nanowires with diameters in a range of 100 - 200 nm and lengths of up to a few tens of micrometers. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction confirmed that the products corresponded to the nanowires of ${\beta}-Bi_2O_3$ crystals and Pd nanoparticles. Pd-functionalized ${\beta}-Bi_2O_3$ nanowires sensor showed an enhanced sensing performance to $NO_2$ gas compared to as-synthesized ${\beta}-Bi_2O_3$ nanowires sensor. As synthesized and Pd-functionalized ${\beta}-Bi_2O_3$ nanowire sensors showed responses of 178% - 338% and 196% - 535% at $300^{\circ}C$, respectively, to 0.05 - 2 ppm $NO_2$. In addition, the underlying mechanism of the enhancement of the sensing properties of ${\beta}-Bi_2O_3$ nanowires by Pd-functionalization is discussed.