Cerium oxide-tungsten oxide core-shell nanowire-based microsensors sensitive to acetone

Gas sensitive cerium oxide-tungsten oxide core-shell nanowires are synthesized and integrated directly into micromachined platforms via aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposition. Tests to various volatile organic compounds (acetone, ethanol, and toluene) involved in early disease diagnosis demonstrate enhanced sensitivity to acetone for the core-shell structures in contrast to the non-modified materials (i.e., only tungsten oxide or cerium oxide). This is attributed to the high density of oxygen vacancy defects at the shell, as well as the formation of heterojunctions at the core-shell interface, which provide the modified nanowires with ‘extra’ chemical and electronic sensitization as compared to the non-modified materials.This work has been supported by the Czech Science Foundation (GAČR) via Grant no. 17-16531S, and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation via the Ramón y Cajal Programme and Grants TEC2015-74329-JIN-(AEI/FEDER,EU) and TEC2016-79898-C6-(AEI/FEDER,EU). This research has used the Spanish ICTS Network MICRONANOFABS (partially funded by MINECO). CEITEC Nano Research Infrastructure (IDLM2015041, MEYS CR, 2016–2019) is also acknowledged.Peer reviewe