Improvement in NO(2) Gas Sensing Properties of Semiconductor-Type Sensors by Loading Pt into BiVO(4) Nanocomposites at Room Temperature

In the present study, we report the first attempt to prepare a conducive environment for Pt/BiVO(4) nanocomposite material reusability for the promotion of sustainable development. Here, the Pt/BiVO(4) nanocomposite was prepared using a hydrothermal method with various weight percentages of platinum for use in NO(2) gas sensors. The surface morphologies and structure of the Pt/BiVO(4) nanocomposite were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that Pt added to BiVO(4) with 3 wt.% Pt/BiVO(4) was best at a concentration of 100 ppm NO(2), with a response at 167.7, and a response/recovery time of 12/35 s, respectively. The Pt/BiVO(4) nanocomposite-based gas sensor exhibits promising nitrogen dioxide gas-sensing characteristics, such as fast response, highly selective detection, and extremely short response/recovery time. Additionally, the mechanisms of gas sensing in Pt/BiVO(4) nanocomposites were explored in this paper.