Heterogeneous Sensitization of Metal-Organic Framework Driven Metal@Metal Oxide Complex Catalysts on an Oxide Nanofiber Scaffold Toward Superior Gas Sensors

Abstract

We report on the heterogeneous sensitization of metal-organic framework (MOF)-driven metal-embedded metal oxide (M@MO) complex catalysts onto semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) nanofibers (NFs) via electrospinning for markedly enhanced chemical gas sensing. ZIF-8-derived Pd-loaded ZnO nanocubes (Pd@ZnO) were sensitized on both the interior and the exterior of WO3 NFs, resulting in the formation of multiheterojunction Pd-ZnO and ZnO WO3 interfaces. The Pd@ZnO loaded WO3 NFs were found to exhibit unparalleled toluene sensitivity (R-air/R-gas = 4.37 to 100 ppb), fast gas response speed (similar to 20 s) and superior cross-selectivity against other interfering gases. These results demonstrate that MOF-derived M@MO complex catalysts can be functionalized within an electrospun nanofiber scaffold, thereby creating multiheterojunctions, essential for improving catalytic sensor sensitization.