Electrospun V2O5 composite fibers: Synthesis, characterization and ammonia sensing properties

Summary

Vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) is a promising sensing material for detecting ammonia (NH₃), a gas that must be monitored at very low levels in air. This study synthesises V₂O₅ fibres by a simple sol–gel-assisted electrospinning route, first forming composite fibres of vanadium oxide with a polymer binder — either polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) — and, in some cases, doping them with platinum. Calcination in air then burns off the polymer to leave the pure (or Pt-doped) oxide. After characterisation by X-ray diffraction, infrared and photoelectron spectroscopy and electron microscopy, the fibres were tested as resistive ammonia sensors. They detected ammonia down to about 100 ppb; PVP-derived fibres were the most sensitive at sub-ppm levels, while Pt doping actually lowered the response.

Authors & Affiliations

• V. Modafferi

  Dept. of Mechanics and Materials, Università “Mediterranea” di Reggio Calabria, Italy
• S. Trocino

  Dept. of Mechanics and Materials, Università “Mediterranea” di Reggio Calabria, Italy
• A. Donato

  Dept. of Mechanics and Materials, Università “Mediterranea” di Reggio Calabria, Italy
• G. Panzera

  Dept. of Mechanics and Materials, Università “Mediterranea” di Reggio Calabria, Italy
• G. Neri Corresponding

  Dept. of Electronic Engineering, Chemistry and Industrial Engineering, Università di Messina, Italy

Topics

Materials

Linari Electrospinning Systems