title: Fabrication and investigation of gas sensing properties of Nb-doped TiO(2) nanotubular arrays.
abstract: Synthesis of Nb-containing titania nanotubular arrays at room temperature by electrochemical anodization is reported. Crystallization of pure and Nb-doped TiO(2) nanotubes was carried out by post-growth annealing at 400°C. The morphology of the tubes obtained was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Crystal structure and composition of tubes were investigated by glancing incidence x-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and total reflection x-ray fluorescence (TXRF). For the first time gas sensing characteristics of Nb-doped TiO(2) nanotubes were investigated and compared to those of undoped nanotubes. The functional properties of nanotubular arrays towards CO, H(2), NO(2), ethanol and acetone were tested in a wide range of operating temperature. The introduction of Nb largely improves conductivity and enhances gas sensing performances of TiO(2) nanotubes.
authors.affiliation: SENSOR Lab, Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Brescia and CNR-IDASC, via Valotti 9, Brescia, Italy. vardan.galstyan@ing.unibs.it
authors.forename: Vardan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Galstyan
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Comini
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faglia
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vomiero
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borgese
authors.forename: Elza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bontempi
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sberveglieri
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009556:Niobium / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014159:Transducers
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D009556:Niobium; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium