Synthesis and Hydrogen Gas Sensing Properties of TiO2 ‐decorated CuO Nanorods

Titanium dioxide (TiO2 )‐decorated cupric oxide (CuO) nanorods were fabricated by a facile two‐step process involving thermal oxidation and solvothermal methods. The multiple‐networked TiO2 ‐decorated CuO nanorod sensor showed responses of 194–857%, to 0.1–5 ppm of H2 at 300 °C. These responses were 1.5–3.8 times higher than those of the pristine CuO nanorod sensor over the same H2 concentration range. The TiO2 ‐decorated CuO nanorod sensor also showed a faster response to H2 gas than the pristine one, even though the former showed somewhat slower recovery than the latter. TiO2 decoration decreased the optimal operation temperature of the CuO nanorod sensor by 100 °C. The origin of the enhanced H2 sensing performance of the TiO2 ‐decorated CuO nanorod sensor is discussed.