Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured Ag- and In-doped vanadium pentoxide for ethanol-sensing application

Abstract This study presents a facile method for preparing low-temperature gas sensors based on nanostructured Ag-doped and In-doped vanadium pentoxide (V2O5). Pure, In-doped, and Ag-doped V2O5 samples were synthesized using the thermal decomposition method, and thermogravimetric analysis was used to determine the optimal calcination temperature. All the samples were characterized and analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Both Ag- and In-doped V2O5 exhibited higher sensitivity toward ethanol compared to pure V2O5. Hence, incorporating metal ions into semiconducting metal oxides holds the potential to enhance the sensitivity of gas sensors.