SnO2/MoO3-nanostructure and alcohol detection

SnO2/MoO3 mixed samples from 0 to 100 mol% MoO3 have been prepared by using the sol–gel method and calcined at 500 °C during 24 h. The sensor response of the samples towards alcohols, CnH2n+1OH (n = 1–4), and NH3 will be interpreted in terms of the acid–base properties of the nanocomposites. To support it, a detailed high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy and RAMAN analysis have been performed allowing to determine the structural, morphological and compositional evolution of this nanostructured binary system. The change on the sensing characteristics related with the Mo content on samples is explained attending to these analytical characterization results that point out the presence of Mo2O3 in the very small grain of SnO2, about 2.5 nm, before their segregation in determining the sensing characteristics.