Gas Microsensors Based on Cerium Oxide Modified Tungsten Oxide Nanowires

A gas sensitive material consisting of tungsten oxide nanowires (NW s) modified with cerium oxide nanoparticles (NPs) was developed and integrated into micro machined transducing platforms via aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition. Results validate the functionality of the sensors and demonstrate the enhancement of the sensing properties of tungsten oxide towards ethanol (EtOH) by its surface modification with cerium oxide. These results are attributed to the formation of heterojunctions which provides an electronic sensitization along the whole gas sensitive film.