LAUSR

Abstract CuO nanoparticles loaded In2O3 hollow sphere (CuO–In2O3) was synthesized via soft template method. The microstructure, phase composition and element distribution of CuO–In2O3 were analyzed by SEM, XRD, HRTEM and XPS. The NO2 sensing performance of CuO–In2O3 sensor was significantly promoted compared with In2O3 sensor at optimized working temperature of 100 °C. The response of pure In2O3 to 300 ppb NO2 was 62, whereas the response of CuO–In2O3 composite sensor was 430. Moreover, the response and recovery time of CuO–In2O3 composite sensor was decreased dramatically. The results exhibit that the improved sensing properties of CuO–In2O3 composite sensor could be assigned to p-n heterojunctions created at CuO–In2O3 interface.