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Effects of Particle Size on the Gas Sensitivity and Catalytic Activity of In2O3

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Abstract

Nanosized In2O3 powders with different particle sizes were prepared by the microemulsion synthetic method. The effects of particle size on the gas-sensing and catalytic properties of the as-prepared In2O3 were investigated. Reductions in particle size to nanometer levels improved the sensitivity and catalytic activity of In2O3 to i-C4H10 and C2H5OH. The sensitivity of nanosized In2O3 (<42 nm) sensors to i-C4H10, H2 and C2H5OH was 2-4 times higher than that of chemically precipitated In2O3 (130 nm) sensor. A nearly linear relationship was observed between the catalytic activity and specific surface area of In2O3 for the oxidation of i-C4H10 and C2H5OH at 275 °C. The relationship between gas sensitivity and catalytic activity was further discussed. The results of this work reveal that catalytic activity plays a key role in enhancing the sensitivity of gas-sensing materials.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Key Technology Research and Development Program of China (No.2013BAD17B04). The authors gratefully acknowledge Professor Denggao Jiang and his group in Zhengzhou University for their help in the preparation and determination of the characteristics of In2O3.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Henan Hanwei Electronics Co. Ltd, Zhengzhou, 450001, China

    Xiaoshui Zhang, Jinling Zhao & Guixin Jin

  2. Zhengzhou Winsen Electronic Technology Co. Ltd, Zhengzhou, 450001, China

    Ruiqin Gu, Mengke Zhao & Yongliang Xue

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  1. Xiaoshui Zhang
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  2. Ruiqin Gu
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  3. Jinling Zhao
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  4. Guixin Jin
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  5. Mengke Zhao
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  6. Yongliang Xue
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Correspondence to Guixin Jin.

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Zhang, X., Gu, R., Zhao, J. et al. Effects of Particle Size on the Gas Sensitivity and Catalytic Activity of In2O3 . J. of Materi Eng and Perform 24, 3815–3819 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-015-1698-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-015-1698-4

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