Superior Room-Temperature Gas Sensing Performance of Belt-like VO2(B) over 1DV2O5 Nanofibers
Reliable detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at room temperature remains a primary hurdle in developing low-power, high-performance gas sensors. Traditional metal oxide semiconductor sensors often require elevated operating temperatures, leading to high energy consumption and safety hazards. To address this, vanadium oxides have emerged as promising candidates due to their multi-valence states and tunable crystal structures. This study presents a comparative evaluation of belt-like VO2(B) single crystals and one-dimensional V2O5 nanofibers. The investigation highlights how distinct phase structures and crystalline orientations fundamentally dictate the electronic properties and surface adsorption kinetics required for superior room-temperature gas sensing.
Graphical abstract.
Technology Overview
The technology leverages hydrothermal synthesis to fabricate belt-like monoclinic VO2(B) single crystals with an exposed (001) facet. Compared to orthorhombic V2O5 nanofibers, VO2(B) exhibits a unique band structure, optimal narrow bandgap (around 0.27 eV), and high carrier concentration. This facilitates efficient charge transfer during gas-solid interactions, enabling spontaneous gas adsorption and rapid electron exchange directly at room temperature.
Applications & Benefits
This nanomaterial is applied in advanced, low-power chemiresistive gas sensors targeting industrial VOC monitoring and breath-based medical diagnostics. The primary benefit is high-sensitivity, room-temperature detection of harmful vapors like ethanol. By eliminating heating components, the sensor drastically reduces power consumption, minimizes structural complexity, mitigates explosion risks in hazardous environments, and extends the operational lifespan of portable electronics.
Abstract：
Achieving reliable room-temperature detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) remains a challenge for developing low-power, high-performance gas sensors. In this work, belt-like VO2(B) single crystals with a strong (00l) (l = 1, 2, and 3) orientation were successfully synthesized via hydrothermal reduction of one-dimensional (1D) V2O5 nanofibers. Comparative sensing evaluations demonstrate that VO2(B) exhibits improved selectivity and an approximately 19-fold higher response to ethanol at room temperature relative to 1D V2O5 nanofibers. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further reveal stronger ethanol adsorption and greater charge transfer on VO2(B) surfaces, elucidating the origin of its superior room-temperature sensing performance.
Superior Room-Temperature Gas Sensing Performance of Belt-like VO2(B) over 1DV2O5 Nanofibers
Author：Cheng Qiuyu, Miao Lei, Song Peng, Jin Qiuyu, Okawa Ayahisa, Hasegawa Takuya, Hongo Kenta, Tang Fu, Cao Wenbin, Chiu Te-Wei, Sekino Tohru, Yin Shu
Year：2026
Source publication： ACS Sensors, Vol 11, Issue 2, February 2026
Subfield Highest percentage： 99% Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes #1/99