Nanoplatelet structures of MoO3 for H2 gas sensors

MoO3 nanostructures were synthesized using optimized sol-gel conditions and thin films were prepared by spin coating onto suitable substrates and tested for hydrogen gas detection. Highly polycrystalline MoO3 nanostructures with orthorhombic symmetry were obtained from phase determination using grazing incidence x-ray diffraction. Morphology determination using field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed different topography for various processing conditions. Comparison of gas sensing studies revealed that molybdenum oxide thin films with nanoplatelet shaped morphology are capable of detecting hydrogen gas at a large range of concentrations, when operated at 200°C with higher sensitivity than other morphologies.