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Hierarchical NiO–CeO nanosheets self-assembly flower-like architecture: heterojunction engineering assisting for high-performance humidity sensor

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Abstract

Due to its high performance, good sensitivity, fast response and recovery time, p-n heterojunction layer-like nanostructure consisting of two kinds of semiconducting metal oxide materials can be regarded as one of the most promising sensor materials for humidity detection at room temperature. In this study, NiO–CeO p-n heterojunction-based 2D nanosheet self-assembled architectures have been developed for constructing high-performance humidity sensors. Morphology and structure characterizations reveal that the novel heterostructures are composed of 3D flower-like porous microspheres self-assembled by 2D layered nanosheets with high surface area and abundant active sites, in which the amorphous n-type CeO nanocrystalline with only several nanometers homogeneously distributes into the p-type NiO nanosheet matrix. The sensors presented excellent humidity sensing performance with high sensitivity and a pseudo-linear response to water gas in the relative wide humidity (RH) range of 11–95% at room temperature with excellent stability, reproducibility and fast response speed. These improved properties can be greatly attributed to the unique 3D flower-like architectures with a large specific surface area and the NiO–CeO heterojunction interface and synergistic effect. Such a high performances of NiO–CeO p-n heterojunction humidity sensor can have great potential applications in highly sensitive humidity sensors.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely acknowledge financial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC Grant No. 11875032), the Nature Science Foundation of Jilin Province (20170101193JC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Physics and Technology for Advanced Batteries, Ministry of Education, College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China

    Ying Liu & Guodong Wei

  2. College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China

    Wen Zeng

  3. School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing, 400030, China

    Yanqiong Li

  4. Materials Institute of Atomic and Molecular Science, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Weiyang University Park, Xi’an, 710021, China

    Pan Wang & Guodong Wei

  5. Department of Nuclear Physics, China Institute of Atomic Energy, P.O. BOX 275-41, Beijing, 102413, China

    Yongli Jin & Xiaolong Huang

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  1. Ying Liu
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Correspondence to Guodong Wei or Wen Zeng.

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Liu, Y., Li, Y., Wang, P. et al. Hierarchical NiO–CeO nanosheets self-assembly flower-like architecture: heterojunction engineering assisting for high-performance humidity sensor. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 31, 13229–13239 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-03874-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-03874-x

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