Urchin-like core-shell heterostructure of In 2 O 3 nanowires-coated ZnO microspheres with enhanced triethylamine gas-sensing properties

The urchin-like core-shell In 2 O 3 /ZnO nanocomposites were prepared via a facile solvothermal method which In 2 O 3 nanowires were grown on the ZnO microspheres. The nanocomposite microspheres had mesoporous structure, whose large specific surface area was 58.5 m 2 /g and pore size was 14.0 nm. The influence of initial reactant In 3+ content on the morphology, component and structure of composites was systemically investigated. The sensor based on In 2 O 3 -ZnO-0.1 (the addition amount of indium nitrate was 0.1 g) displayed more excellent gas-sensing performance to triethylamine (TEA) than other samples, such as higher response (221), lower working temperature (100 °C). The outstanding gas-sensing performance of urchin-like In 2 O 3 /ZnO nanocomposites could be attributed to the special urchin-like structure with mesoporous and high specific surface area, plentiful oxygen vacancies and the formation of n-n heterojunction.