Detection of formaldehyde (FA) in the atmosphere is of significant importance because exposure to FA may cause serious health problems such as sick-house syndrome, leukemia, and cancer. Modifying metal oxide semiconductors (MOSs) with noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) is an efficient method to enhance FA-sensing properties. Herein, a series of Au25 nanocluster (NC)-decorated three-dimensionally ordered macroporous In2O3 materials (Au25/3DOM In2O3) is created, and the loading amount of Au25 NCs was optimized based on FA responses. To reveal the effect of gold size on FA responses, we constructed Au144 NC-loaded 3DOM In2O3 and Au NP (2.9 nm)-modified 3DOM In2O3 and compared their gas-sensing properties with the optimal Au25/3DOM In2O3. The results show that in comparison with its counterparts, the optimal Au25/3DOM In2O3 presents higher sensitivity, shorter response/recovery times, better selectivity, and excellent reproducibility. More attractively, the responses to FA are dependent on the size of Au particles loaded on In2O3. We suggest that the enhanced FA responses for the optimal material are mainly attributed to the electronic and chemical-sensitization effects of Au25 NCs, and the size-dependent effect of FA responses is ascribed to the size of Au NPs affecting the formation of oxygen-adsorbing species. This work provides an efficient way for fabricating noble metal NP-loaded MOSs with tunable gas-sensing properties.
Keywords: 3DOM In2O3; Au25 nanoclusters; formaldehyde; gas sensing; size effect.