High-efficient and selective hydrogen gas sensor based on bimetallic Ag/Cu nanoparticles decorated on In2O3: Experimental and DFT calculation

Hydrogen (H 2 ), as a clean energy source, exhibits significant promise in the realm of new energy vehicles. Utilizing hydrogen sensors with rapid response and high selectivity is crucial for monitoring vehicles and preventing hydrogen leakage incidents. In this study, In 2 O 3 nanomaterials were synthesized via a hydrothermal approach and effectively modified with Ag/Cu bimetallic nanoparticles to fabricate high-performance hydrogen sensors. The optimal work temperature for the Ag/Cu–In 2 O 3 sensor is determined to be 300 °C. At this temperature, the sensor exhibited a response of 9.66–100 ppm H 2 , which is four times higher than the pristine In 2 O 3 sensor. Excellent H 2 selectivity and outstanding long-term stability were exhibited by the sensor in typical interference gas environments encountered in new energy vehicles. The significant enhancement in sensor performance is attributed to the electronic and chemical sensitization effects of Ag/Cu bimetals and the synergistic effects of bimetallic modification. Additionally, computational studies based on density functional theory (DFT) further elucidated the reasons for the improved H 2 gas sensing performance of Ag/Cu–In 2 O 3 nanocomposites. The Ag/Cu–In 2 O 3 nanocomposites show great potential for hydrogen detection applications in the sensor field.