Metal-organic framework (MOF) derived In2O3 and g-C3N4 composite for superior NOx gas-sensing performance at room temperature

The composite of hollow In2O3 tubes derived from metal-organic framework (MOF) and two-dimensional (2D) thin sheets g-C3N4 sensing material was successfully prepared via hydrothermal method. The structure, surface morphology and elementary of In2O3/g-C3N4 were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TEM, SEM and XPS. The response of In2O3/g-C3N4 to 100 ppm NOx is 294.9 at room temperature, which is 15 times higher than that of pure In2O3 tubes. In2O3/g-C3N4 sensor exhibits a low detection limit of 2.9 ppb. The enhanced sensing performance could be ascribed to the heterojunction and the synergistic effect between In2O3 tubes and thin sheets g-C3N4. Obviously, In2O3/g-C3N4 is a novel and promising material for the selective detection of NOx at room temperature.