CeO2/TiO2 core/shell nanoparticles as quantitative gas sensor at room temperature.

Purpose This paper aims to introduce constructed CeO2/TiO2 core/shell nanoparticle as sensitive substance organic compounds.Design/methodology/approach The CeO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment. Then CeO2/TiO2 core/shell was fabricated by sol–gel method preparation of TiO2 in the presence of ceria nanoparticles and applied as the sensitive material to make a sensor.Findings Formation of the nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The synthesized sensor exhibited not only good sensitivity to volatile organic compounds at room temperature but also logarithm of sensitivity versus concentrations was linear.Research limitations/implications The sensor shows acceptable sensitivity to volatile organic compound at room temperature.Practical implications Experimental data revealed satisfactory reproducibility and short response and recovery times.Originality/value A radical mechanism for gas sensor reaction in two pathways was considered and activation energies were calculated by density functional theory (DFT) method to describe different sensitivities of tested volatile gases. The experimental results were consistent with the calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]