Vapor phase synthesis, characterization and gas sensing performances of Co3O4 and Au/Co3O4 nanosystems.

Al2O3-supported Co3O4 nanosystems were grown by a Chemical Vapor Deposition route under O2 + H2O atmospheres at 500 degrees C. Subsequently, the preparation of Au/Co3O4 composites was attained by Radio Frequency-Sputtering of gold onto the previous Co3O4 nanodeposits. Important data on the system structure, morphology and chemical composition were obtained by the combined use of complementary techniques, namely Glancing Incidence X-ray Diffraction, Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry. Finally, the gas sensing properties of the synthesized systems were probed in the detection of ethanol and hydrogen. The obtained results revealed significant responses already at moderate temperatures, which could be further enhanced by Co3O4 functionalization with Au nanoparticles.