Bioinspired Cocatalysts Decorated WO3 Nanotube Toward Unparalleled Hydrogen Sulfide Chemiresistor

Abstract

Herein, we incorporated dual biotemplates, i.e., cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and apoferritin, into electrospinning solution to achieve three distinct benefits, i.e., (i) facile synthesis of a WO3 nanotube by utilizing the self agglomerating nature of CNC in the core of as-spun nanofibers, (ii) effective sensitization by partial phase transition from WO3 to Na2W4O13 induced by interaction between sodium-doped CNC and WO3 during calcination, and (iii) uniform functionalization with monodispersive apoferritin-derived Pt catalytic nanoparticles (2.22 +/- 0.42 nm). Interestingly, the sensitization effect of Na2W4O13 on WO3 resulted in highly selective H2S sensing characteristics against seven different interfering molecules. Furthermore, synergistic effects with a bioinspired Pt catalyst induced a remarkably enhanced H2S response (R-air/R-gas = 203.5), unparalleled selectivity (R-air/R-gas < 1.3 for the interfering molecules), and rapid response (<10 s)/recovery (<30 s) time at 1 ppm of H2S under 95% relative humidity level. This work paves the way for a new class of cosensitization routes to overcome critical shortcomings of SMO-based chemical sensors, thus providing a potential platform for diagnosis of halitosis.