In2O3 Cauliflower Modified with Au Nanoparticles for O3 Gas Detection at Room Temperature

Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS)-based chemiresistive gas sensors, attributable to their low cost, compact structure, and long operational lifetime, have been widely employed for the detection and monitoring of trace ozone (O3) in environmental air. Moreover, as ozone is a highly reactive oxidizing species extensively used in medical device sterilization, hospital disinfection, and food processing and preservation, accurate monitoring of ozone concentration is also essential in medical sanitation and food safety inspection. However, their practical applications are often limited by insufficient sensitivity and the requirement for elevated operating temperatures. In this study, Au-modified indium oxide (Au-In2O3) nanocomposite sensing materials were synthesized via a hydrothermal route followed by surface modification. Structural and morphological characterizations confirmed the uniform dispersion of Au nanoparticles on the In2O3surface, which is expected to enhance the interaction between the sensor and target gas molecules. The resulting Au-In2O3sensor exhibited excellent O3sensing performance under room-temperature conditions. Compared with pristine In2O3, the Au-In2O3sensor with 1.0 wt% Au modification demonstrated a remarkably enhanced response of 1398.4 toward 1 ppm O3at room temperature. Moreover, the corresponding response/recovery times were shortened to 102/358 s for Au-In2O3. The outstanding O3sensing performance can be attributed to the synergistic effects of Au nanoparticles, including the spillover effect and the formation of a Schottky junction at the Au-In2O3interface. These results suggest that Au-modified In2O3cauliflower represents a highly promising candidate material for high performance O3sensing at low operating temperatures.