Strategies for improving the sensing performance of In2O3-based gas sensors for ethanol detection

Due to its explosive, colorless and volatile nature, detection of ethanol is critical in daily life, industrial production and medical treatment. Metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) gas sensors have caught the attention of researchers due to their low cost and convenient detection. Indium oxide (In2O3) is a typical wide band gap n-type semiconductor metal oxide widely used in detecting H2S, NO2, H2, and ethanol. This paper summarizes the strategies used in the last decade to improve the performance of gas sensors based on In2O3 sensitive materials for ethanol detection. These strategies include modifying the morphology of indium oxide sensitive materials, doping and loading, building heterojunctions, and using composite new materials. In addition, the sensing mechanism for ethanol detection by gas sensors is presented.