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Furfural is an industrial renewable platform chemical, which can be converted to useful furanics such as α-angelica lactone, carboxylic acids such as levulinic acid and valeric acid, or to higher carbon content products via condensation routes for producing drop-in fuel replacements and chemicals with diverse applications. These important conversion processes may be carried out in selective fashions, although they require adequate catalysts. They were successfully carried out using versatile, stable silica-wrapped niobium oxide nanostructured catalysts. For example, α-angelica lactone was converted in an integrated fashion to ethyl levulinate in 90% yield, and the esterification of levulinic and valeric acids gave ethyl levulinate in quantitative yield and ethyl valerate in 90% yield, respectively, at 140 °C. Catalytic, mechanistic and kinetic modelling studies shed light on the influence of the materials properties on the catalytic performances. These catalysts outperformed pure Nb2O5, as well as hydrothermally synthesized composites consisting of Nb2O5 nanoparticles embedded in a mesoporous siliceous matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy oxide nanofibers, based on equimolar (Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Ni), (Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Zn) and (Cr,Mn,Fe,Ni,Zn) combinations, were prepared by electrospinning followed by calcination. The obtained hollow nanofibers exhibited a porous structure consisting of interconnected nearly strain-free (Cr1/5Mn1/5Fe1/5Co1/5Ni1/5)3O4, (Cr1/5Mn1/5Fe1/5Co1/5Zn1/5)3O4 and (Cr1/5Mn1/5Fe1/5Ni1/5Zn1/5)3O4 single crystals with a pure Fd3¯m spinel structure. Oxidation state of the cations at the nanofiber surface was assessed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cation distributions were proposed satisfying electroneutrality and optimizing octahedral stabilization. The magnetic data are consistent with a distribution of cations that satisfies the energetic preferences for octahedral vs. tetrahedral sites and is random only within the octahedral and tetrahedral sublattices. The nanofibers are ferrimagnets with relatively low critical temperature more similar to cubic chromites and manganites than to ferrites. Replacing the magnetic cations Co or Ni with non-magnetic Zn lowers the critical temperature from 374 K (Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Ni) to 233 and 105 K for (Cr,Mn,Fe,Ni,Zn) and (Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Zn), respectively. The latter nanofibers additionally have a low temperature transition to a reentrant spin-glass-like state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report CNT/Al2O3 core–shell nanostructures for the electrochemical detection of dihydroxybenzene (DHB) isomers. Amorphous films of Al2O3 (1.2–15.4 nm in thickness) are uniformly deposited onto the inner and outer walls of CNTs by atomic layer deposition. The effect of the Al2O3 shell thickness on the electrochemical detection of dihydroxybenzene isomers was explored using cyclic and square-wave voltammetry. The best sensing properties are found at a shell thickness of approx. 2.4 nm (CNT/Al2O3(9) sensor), where the oxidation peak currents (sensor-signal) increased ca. 10 times as compared to a sensor fabricated with non-coated CNTs. All of the three DHB isomers (hydroquinone, catechol and resorcinol) are independently detected in the concentration ranges of 2–1000 μmol L−1, 0.5–700 μmol L−1 and 3.5–500 μmol L−1, respectively. The sensors show reliable repeatability, reproducibility, long-term stability, and applicability in the analysis of real samples. Based on these findings, a plausible mechanism is proposed highlighting the role of the Al2O3–shell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a microwave assisted synthesis of NaNbO3 perovskite mesocrystals with a hierarchical morphology formed by the self-assembly of nanoparticles in particle clusters. The synthesis method combines non-aqueous sol–gel synthesis and microwave heating in a single step process that allows us to isolate crystalline single phase NaNbO3 in few minutes. A detailed investigation of the effect of the reaction temperature on the crystallinity and morphology of the product was conducted. The synthesis stabilizes the unusual orthorhombic phase Pmma, a property that can be ascribed to the crystal size (24 nm). TEM and SAED analyses show that the hierarchical polycrystalline particles behave as single crystals, a feature related to a non-classical crystallization mechanism. Moreover, the optical bandgap of this NaNbO3 phase was estimated for the first time. The results suggest the potential of this synthetic procedure for the fast production of high quality tertiary oxide nanocrystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on noble metal tipping of heterostructured nanocrystals (NCs) of CdSe@CdS tetrapods (TPs) as a chemical reaction to manifest energetic differences between type I and quasi-type II heterojunctions. The energetics between zincblende (ZB) CdSe seed and wurtzite CdS TP arms has previously been probed primarily using ultrafast spectroscopic methods. However, to interrogate the energetics of CdSe@CdS TPs from both larger and very small ZB CdSe seeds (i.e., effective diameters (Deff) 6.2 to 1.8 nm) we utilize the photodeposition of gold nanoparticles as a facile and selective chemical reaction to correlate reaction rates with tetrapod energetics. We observe a 20-fold enhancement in the rate of selective photodeposition of a single AuNP tip onto this series of TPs, which were attributed to straddling of type I vs. quasi-type II energetics as a direct consequence of varying ZB CdSe seed size. Synthetic access to type I and quasi-type II TPs enabled the synthesis of singly tipped AuNP-CdSe@CdS TPs in gram quantities, which is the largest scale synthesis of metal–semiconductor Janus nanoparticles to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the fabrication of functional nanostructures with multicomponents for a variety of novel biosensors has received considerable attention due to their synergistic improved sensitivity. Herein, we report a facile approach for the preparation of Fe3O4/nitrogen-doped carbon (Fe3O4/N–C) hybrid nanofibers, and construct a sensing platform for the sensitive colorimetric detection of H2O2 and ascorbic acid (AA). During the synthetic process, a discontinuous layer of polypyrrole (PPy) is first polymerized in situ on the surface of the α-Fe2O3 nanofibers under hydrothermal reaction using α-Fe2O3 nanofibers as both a template and an oxidant. Then the prepared α-Fe2O3/PPy nanofibers are converted into Fe3O4/N–C hybrid nanofibers through pyrolysis with a thermochemical reduction process. The resulting Fe3O4/N–C hybrid nanofibers are used as a novel peroxidase mimic towards the oxidation of 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2, with a superior catalytic activity over individual α-Fe2O3 nanofibers, α-Fe2O3/PPy nanofibers, Fe3O4/C nanofibers, and commercial Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Based on the high peroxidase-like activity of Fe3O4/N–C hybrid nanofibers, a sensing platform for the colorimetric detection of AA is developed. A good linear relationship from 0 to 50 μM and a detection limit of 0.04 μM are achieved. This work offers a new method for the preparation of Fe3O4/N–C hybrid nanofibers and presents new potential applications in biosensing, medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the nitrogen (N) doping in carbon nanomaterials has been suggested as an effective approach to enhance the performance of lithium ion batteries (LIBs). However, achieving N-doped carbon nanomaterials with an ultrahigh N content is still a great challenge, thus limiting the capacity enhancement. Herein, we demonstrate a new procedure for the synthesis of unique sandwich architecture of N-doped carbon/reduced graphene oxide (N-carbon/rGO) derived from simple pyrolysis of a polypyrrole/GO nanosheet precursor. The N-carbon/rGO exhibits the highest N-doping of 15.4% reported in all the carbon-based nanomaterials, and a high specific surface area of 327 m2 g−1 with a micro/mesoporous structure. They combine the advantages of high conductivity of rGO, very high N-functionalities, and the porous structure of carbons, which endow them with appealing electrochemical lithium storage properties with a high initial reversible capacity of 1100 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1, excellent rate capability up to 20 A g−1, and superior cycling stability over 1000 cycles at a high current density of 1 A g−1. The present work highlights the important role of tuning the nitrogen doping in enhancing the performance of LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospinning and atomic layer deposition (ALD) have been coupled to prepare functional hetero-structures with potential application in fuel cells. Electrocatalysts comprising platinum (Pt) nanoparticles dispersed onto electrospun carbon fibers were selectively decorated with tin dioxide (SnO2) using ALD. The presence of SnO2 led to a considerable enhancement of the catalyst durability during voltage cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, CO2/CH4 separation is considered extremely important with respect to making biogas economically viable. The search for efficient materials for biogas upgrading is at the cutting edge of research in the field of energy. Periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMO) are highly suitable for application as selective adsorbents for CO2 as they have concomitant high specific surface areas and tunable surface properties. Herein, we describe the tuning of the surface properties of phenylene-PMO using atomic layer deposition (ALD) to add active aluminium species to the walls of these organic–inorganic hybrid materials. Modification with aluminium oxide was attained by varying the numbers of deposition cycles (from 2 to 100 cycles). A clear correlation between the amount of aluminium attached to PMO and the number of deposition cycles is observed. Consequently, an increase in the number of deposition cycles resulted in a reduction of the specific surface area and the pore volume of the PMO material. Variation of the number of deposition cycles to modify the surface of the PMOs yields composite materials with aluminium sites having different local coordination but the meso- and molecular-scale periodicity orders of the parent PMO remain intact. Adsorption results indicate that high selectivity for CO2/CH4 separation is obtained when pentacoordinated (AlV) and tetrahedral (AlIV) aluminium oxide are present in the PMO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) were grown directly on a pretreated Inconel® metallic substrate by thermal chemical vapor deposition without the need of catalyst addition. This experimental approach allows the substrate surface to act as both the catalyst and support for the CNTs growth therefore enhancing the connection between the two. It was found that uniformly dispersed and densely packed nano-sized, intrinsic catalytic particles, generated during the annealing pretreatment, allow the growth of the vertically aligned CNTs. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to assess the quality and the nature of the formed CNTs. Electrochemical measurements were performed to evaluate the possibility to use the Inconel/VACNTs system as an electrode material. As a proof of concept, the capacitive behavior of the VACNTs arrays coupled to the Inconel substrate as the active electrode material and the current collector, respectively, in supercapacitors is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of amphoteric siderophore deferoxamine on the crystallization behavior of calcium carbonate was investigated under bioinspired conditions. Amphoteric siderophore deferoxamine possesses self-organization ability, surface activity and ion-chelating properties. It induces in the present case the formation of unusual, highly organized aragonite mesocrystals during the precipitation of calcium carbonate from liquid phase. A detailed investigation of the structure and growth of the particles provides an insight into the role of the deferoxamine and its function in the crystallization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable protocols for the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NPs) in aqueous solution are rarely found and the corresponding growth mechanisms often remain unknown. Furthermore, syntheses of Pd-NPs always demand the use of stabilizing agents which are often unfavorable for catalytic applications. In this contribution, the importance of the palladium precursor chemistry as a prerequisite for any reliable Pd-NP synthesis in aqueous solution is shown. This includes a detailed study of the influence of the precursor chemistry on the nanoparticle growth mechanism. The findings enable the controlled modification of a common synthetic protocol (i.e. the reduction of a palladium precursor with NaBH4) to obtain sub-5 nm Pd-NPs without the use of any stabilizing agent. In addition, it is also shown that such mechanistic studies are not only of great importance to the development of novel synthetic procedures. Exemplarily, the successful transfer of the synthesis from lab- to large-scale is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of a ferromagnetic heterostructured material consisting of a CdSe@CdS nanorod attached to a single dipolar cobalt nanoparticle (CoNP) into a "matchstick" morphology is reported. CdSe@CdS nanorods were modified by an activation reaction with Pt(acac)2 which enabled selective one-sided deposition of a dipolar metallic CoNP-tip via the thermolysis of Co2(CO)8 in the presence of polystyrene ligands. Small (<2 nm) PtNP-tips on CdSe@CdS nanorods were found to be responsible for the selective deposition of CoNP-tips onto one terminus per nanorod. The influence of the Pt-activation step for cobalt tipping was investigated by examination of numerous conditions and characterization of intermediates and materials using transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Useful bio-products are obtainable via the catalytic conversion of biomass or derived intermediates as renewable carbon sources. In particular, furanic ethers and levulinate esters (denoted bioEs) have wide application profiles and can be synthesised via acid-catalysed reactions of intermediates such as fructose, 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF) and furfuryl alcohol (FA) with ethanol. Solid acid catalysts are preferred for producing the bioEs with environmental benefits. Furthermore, the versatility of the catalyst in obtaining the bioEs from different intermediates is attractive for process economics, and in the case of porous catalysts, large pore sizes can be beneficial for operating in the kinetic regime. Carbon-based materials are attractive acid catalysts due to their modifiable surface, e.g. with relatively strong sulfonic acid groups (SO3H). Considering these aspects, here, we report the preparation of mesoporous (SO3H)- functionalised-carbon/silica (C/S) composites with large pores and high amounts of acid sites (up to 2.3 mmol g-1), and their application as versatile solid acid catalysts for producing bioEs from fructose, HMF and FA. The mesoporous composites were prepared by activation of an organic compound deposited on the orderedmesoporous silicas MCF (mesostructured cellular foam) and SBA-15, where the organic compound (p-toluenesulfonic acid) acted simultaneously as the carbon and SO3H source. The atomic-level characterisation of the acid nature and strengths was performed by 31P solid-state NMR studies of an adsorbed base probe, in combination with FT-IR and XPS. Comparative catalytic studies showed that the C/S composites are interesting catalysts for obtaining bioEs in high yields, in comparison with classical solid acid catalysts such as sulfonic acid resin Amberlyst™-15 and nanocrystalline (large pore) zeolite H-beta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report sharp low-frequency Raman spectral features of supercrystals synthesized via the “benzyl alcohol route” and consisting of either yttrium-stabilized or pure zirconia (ZrO2) nanocrystals. In situ formed benzoate species control the nanocrystal growth and act as organic glue leading to the assembly of the nanocrystals in highly ordered 3D supercrystals. We attribute some Raman peaks to THz acoustic vibrations of individual nanocrystals which are only weakly coupled due to the strong acoustic mismatch between the capping ligands and the nanocrystals. Peak positions are consistent with nanocrystal sizes estimated from transmission electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction studies. Narrow size distribution, together with uniform morphological and structural features of the nanocrystals, leads to sharp Raman peaks in the THz spectral region. After removing the ligands by annealing, the acoustic vibrations of the nanocrystals couple resulting in an increase of their frequency. These findings suggest that 3D supercrystals of zirconia nanocrystals can be used for manipulating THz phonons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one-pot template-free solvothermal synthesis of crystalline Li4Ti5O12nanostructures based on the “benzyl alcohol route” is introduced. The 1–2 µm sized nanostructured spherical particles are constituted of nanocrystallites in the size range of a few nm. This is the first report showing that crystalline Li4Ti5O12can be directly obtained by soft chemistry solution routes. The as-synthesized crystalline nanostructures show good lithium intercalation/deintercalation performances at high rates (up to 30 C) and good cycling stabilities. Annealing the nanostructures at 750 °C improves the performance, which approaches the theoretical capacity of Li4Ti5O12with no noticeable (less than 5%) capacity loss after 200 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new atomic layer deposition (ALD) process was applied for the uniform coating of carbon nanotubes with a number of transition-metal oxide thin films (vanadium, titanium, and hafnium oxide). The presented approach is adapted from non-aqueous sol–gel chemistry and utilizes metal alkoxides and carboxylic acids as precursors. It allows the coating of the inner and outer surface of the tubes with a highly conformal film of controllable thickness and hence, the production of high surface area hybrid materials. The morphology and the chemical composition as well as the high purity of the films are evidenced through a combination of electron microscopic and electron-energy-loss spectrometric techniques. Furthermore, in order to highlight a possible application of the obtained hybrids, the electrical and sensing properties of resistive gas sensors based on hybrid vanadium oxide-coated carbon nanotubes (V2O4–CNTs) are reported and the effect of thermal treatment on the gas sensing properties is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to the journal is presented which discusses various papers published within the issue, including one on mesocrystal formation and non-classical crystallization of pre-synthesized nanoparticles, one on the crystallization of metal nanoparticles with self-assembled monolayers of ligands, and another on the assembly of semiconductor metal-chalcogenide nanorods.

A simple microwave-assisted fluorolytic sol–gel synthesis of 30 nm sized FeF3 nanocrystals supported on partially reduced graphene oxide is reported. The as-fabricated nanostructures used as positive electrodes in Li-ion batteries show capacity retention as high as 150 mA h g−1 even after having sustained repeated charge–discharge cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the study of atomically precise Au x Ag 25- x nanoclusters (NCs) toward photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The incorporation of Au atoms into Ag 25 NCs not only narrowed the HOMO-LUMO gaps but also created an interstitial Au-Ag microenvironment, which promoted the photogenerated charge carrier utilization and optimized the reaction dynamics.

High-entropy oxide nanofibers, based on equimolar (Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Ni), (Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Zn) and (Cr,Mn,Fe,Ni,Zn) combinations, were prepared by electrospinning followed by calcination. The obtained hollow nanofibers exhibited a porous structure consisting of interconnected nearly strain-free (Cr 1/5 Mn 1/5 Fe 1/5 Co 1/5 Ni 1/5 ) 3 O 4 , (Cr 1/5 Mn 1/5 Fe 1/5 Co 1/5 Zn 1/5 ) 3 O 4 and (Cr 1/5 Mn 1/5 Fe 1/5 Ni 1/5 Zn 1/5 ) 3 O 4 single crystals with a pure Fd 3̄ m spinel structure. Oxidation state of the cations at the nanofiber surface was assessed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and cation distributions were proposed satisfying electroneutrality and optimizing octahedral stabilization. The magnetic data are consistent with a distribution of cations that satisfies the energetic preferences for octahedral vs. tetrahedral sites and is random only within the octahedral and tetrahedral sublattices. The nanofibers are ferrimagnets with relatively low critical temperature more similar to cubic chromites and manganites than to ferrites. Replacing the magnetic cations Co or Ni with non-magnetic Zn lowers the critical temperature from 374 K (Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Ni) to 233 and 105 K for (Cr,Mn,Fe,Ni,Zn) and (Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Zn), respectively. The latter nanofibers additionally have a low temperature transition to a reentrant spin-glass-like state.

We introduce for the first time a core-shell structure composed of nanostructured self-standing titania nanotubes (TNT, light absorber) filled with Au nanowire (AuNW) array (electrons collector) applied to the photoelectrocatalytic water splitting. Its activity is four times higher than that of reference TNT-Ti obtained with the same anodizing conditions. The composite photoanode brings a distinct photocurrent generation (8 mA cm -2 at 1.65 V vs. RHE), and a high incident photon to current efficiency of 35% obtained under UV light illumination. Moreover, the full system concept of selected constitutional materials, based on Au noble metal and the very stable semiconductor TiO 2 , ensures a stable performance over a long-time range with no photocurrent loss during 100 on-off cycles of light illumination, after 12 h constant illumination and after one-month storage in air. We provide experimental evidence by photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, confirming that the electronic structure of TNT-AuNW is rectifying for electrons and ohmic for holes, while the electrochemical characterization confirms that the specific architecture of the photoanode supports electron separation due to the presence of a Schottky type contact and fast electron transport through the Au nanowires. Although the composite material shows an unchanged electrochemical band gap, typical for plain TiO 2 , we find this material to be an innovative platform for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting under UV light illumination, with significant potential for further modifications, for example extension into the visible light regime.

We report CNT/Al2O3 core-shell nanostructures for the electrochemical detection of dihydroxybenzene (DHB) isomers. Amorphous films of Al2O3 (1.2-15.4 nm in thickness) are uniformly deposited onto the inner and outer walls of CNTs by atomic layer deposition. The effect of the Al2O3 shell thickness on the electrochemical detection of dihydroxybenzene isomers was explored using cyclic and square-wave voltammetry. The best sensing properties are found at a shell thickness of approx. 2.4 nm (CNT/Al2O3(9) sensor), where the oxidation peak currents (sensor-signal) increased ca. 10 times as compared to a sensor fabricated with non-coated CNTs. All of the three DHB isomers (hydroquinone, catechol and resorcinol) are independently detected in the concentration ranges of 2-1000 μmol L-1, 0.5-700 μmol L-1 and 3.5-500 μmol L-1, respectively. The sensors show reliable repeatability, reproducibility, long-term stability, and applicability in the analysis of real samples. Based on these findings, a plausible mechanism is proposed highlighting the role of the Al2O3-shell.

In recent years, the fabrication of functional nanostructures with multicomponents for a variety of novel biosensors has received considerable attention due to their synergistic improved sensitivity. Herein, we report a facile approach for the preparation of Fe 3 O 4 /nitrogen-doped carbon (Fe 3 O 4 /N-C) hybrid nanofibers, and construct a sensing platform for the sensitive colorimetric detection of H 2 O 2 and ascorbic acid (AA). During the synthetic process, a discontinuous layer of polypyrrole (PPy) is first polymerized in situ on the surface of the α-Fe 2 O 3 nanofibers under hydrothermal reaction using α-Fe 2 O 3 nanofibers as both a template and an oxidant. Then the prepared α-Fe 2 O 3 /PPy nanofibers are converted into Fe 3 O 4 /N-C hybrid nanofibers through pyrolysis with a thermochemical reduction process. The resulting Fe 3 O 4 /N-C hybrid nanofibers are used as a novel peroxidase mimic towards the oxidation of 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H 2 O 2 , with a superior catalytic activity over individual α-Fe 2 O 3 nanofibers, α-Fe 2 O 3 /PPy nanofibers, Fe 3 O 4 /C nanofibers, and commercial Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. Based on the high peroxidase-like activity of Fe 3 O 4 /N-C hybrid nanofibers, a sensing platform for the colorimetric detection of AA is developed. A good linear relationship from 0 to 50 μM and a detection limit of 0.04 μM are achieved. This work offers a new method for the preparation of Fe 3 O 4 /N-C hybrid nanofibers and presents new potential applications in biosensing, medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring.

Zirconia nanoparticles doped with Eu 3+ , Tb 3+ and Gd 3+ ions have been synthesized following the benzyl alcohol route. The nanoparticles were coated with N-hydroxydodecanamide and encapsulated in PLGA-b-PEG-COOH nanomicelles. The magnetic and fluorescent properties of these hybrid nanocarriers were investigated, proving them to be potential dual-imaging contrast agents.

A new atomic layer deposition (ALD) process was applied for the uniform coating of carbon nanotubes with a number of transition-metal oxide thin films (vanadium, titanium, and hafnium oxide). The presented approach is adapted from non-aqueous sol-gel chemistry and utilizes metal alkoxides and carboxylic acids as precursors. It allows the coating of the inner and outer surface of the tubes with a highly conformal film of controllable thickness and hence, the production of high surface area hybrid materials. The morphology and the chemical composition as well as the high purity of the films are evidenced through a combination of electron microscopic and electron-energy-loss spectrometric techniques. Furthermore, in order to highlight a possible application of the obtained hybrids, the electrical and sensing properties of resistive gas sensors based on hybrid vanadium oxide-coated carbon nanotubes (V2O4-CNTs) are reported and the effect of thermal treatment on the gas sensing properties is studied.

Semiconducting In2O3 nanocrystals, synthesised via a nonaqueous sol-gel method and doped with 1 wt% of platinum, have shown to possess a unique high sensitivity to oxygen at room temperature (RT). Consequently, a Pt/In2O3-based oxygen sensor for room temperature operation has been developed showing higher performance compared to the state-of-the-art devices.