Microwave-Solvothermal Synthesis of Mesoporous CeO 2 /CNCs Nanocomposite for Enhanced Room Temperature NO 2 Detection.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) gas sensors are pivotal in upholding environmental integrity and human health, necessitating heightened sensitivity and exceptional selectivity. Despite the prevalent use of metal oxide semiconductors (MOSs) for NO 2 detection, extant solutions exhibit shortcomings in meeting practical application criteria, specifically in response, selectivity, and operational temperatures. Here, we successfully employed a facile microwave-solvothermal method to synthesize a mesoporous CeO 2 /CNCs nanocomposite. This methodology entails the rapid and comprehensive dispersion of CeO 2 nanoparticles onto helical carbon nanocoils (CNCs), resulting in augmented electronic conductivity and an abundance of active sites within the composite. Consequently, the gas-sensing sensitivity of the nanocomposite at room temperature experienced a notable enhancement. Moreover, the presence of cerium oxide and the conversion of Ce 3+ and Ce 4+ ions facilitated the generation of oxygen vacancies in the composites, thereby further amplifying the sensing performance. Experimental outcomes demonstrate that the nanocomposite exhibited an approximate 9-fold increase in response to 50 ppm NO 2 in comparison to pure CNCs at room temperature. Additionally, the CeO 2 /CNCs sensor displayed remarkable selectivity towards NO 2 when exposed to gases such as NH 3 , CO, SO 2 , CO 2 , and C 2 H 5 OH. This straightforward microwave-solvothermal method presents an appealing strategy for the research and development of intelligent sensors based on CNCs nanomaterials.