High aspect ratio In2O3 nanowires: Synthesis, mechanism and NO2 gas-sensing properties

Flexural In2O3 nanowires with high aspect ratios were synthesized via a hydrothermal–annealing route. The as-synthesized In2O3 nanowires had diameters of 30–50 nm and length up to several microns. Various reaction parameters, such as the kind of reagents, the time of hydrothermal treatment, annealing time and annealing temperature, were investigated by a series of control experiments. The as-synthesized In2O3 nanowires showed excellent gas-sensing properties to NO2 in terms of sensor response and selectivity.