Nickel-based nanoparticles for carbon monoxide gas sensing applications

In past decades, nanostructured materials have received steadily growing attention as a result of their peculiar and fascinating properties and suitability to a wide range of applications, superior to those found in the bulk counterparts [1]. Among the various nanomaterials that have been studied, metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) have attracted increasing technological and industrial interest due to their properties (optical, magnetic, electrical, catalytic, gas-sensing etc.), which are associated with their physico-chemical characteristics such as mechanical hardness, thermal stability or chemical passivity [2]. NiO has recently surfaced as sensitive materials for the detection of both reducing and oxidizing gases that are important from environmental. Besides, NiO nanoparticles exhibit multi-functional properties, suitable for a variety of applications including catalysis, electrochromic windows, battery cathodes and sensors [3].