Self-powered methane (CH₄) gas sensor based on vanadium oxide (VO_x) nanostructures

Abstract Gas detection technology has undergone significant changes over time. In coal mines, where methane gas (CH 4 ) is typically found, swift detection of this gas is crucial for safety. This study developed the VOx pile rock nanostructures as a sensing material using DC magnetron sputtering and a quartz tube furnace to prepare vanadium nanostructures from a thin sputtered vanadium film. The sensor detected 1000, 2000, and 4000 ppm CH 4 at room temperature without UV excitation, with ultrafast response/recovery times and 7%, 12%, and 27% responses, respectively. In addition, sensing analysis of this sample was performed for 125 days for 2000 ppm of CH 4 . The results exhibit that despite the decrease in the response value, the response and recovery times are almost the same as initial values. Using self-powered and rapid response/recovery time methane gas sensors is important for various applications, such as underground mining environments, where it can identify and alert methane gas levels that exceed the limit immediately, thus saving many lives in case of an explosion.