Ultra Responsive And Highly Selective Ethanol Gas Sensor Based On Au Nanoparticles Embedded Zno Hierarchical Structures

Ultra sensitive and highly selective sensor towards ethanol (C2H5OH) vapor was developed from Au embedded open space ZnO hierarchical nanostructures. The ethanol sensing behaviors were examined at different working temperatures and various quantities of Au nanoparticles as the variable. The response of the Au/ZnO nanostructure based sensor at the optimal working temperature of 220 degrees C towards ethanol vapor is 167 times higher than that of the pristine ZnO structure at the optimal working temperature of 260 degrees C. In addition, the developed sensor exhibited excellent selectivity to ethanol compared with other vapors such as methanol, acetone, 2-propanol and toluene. The ethanol sensing mechanism of the Au embedded ZnO sensor structure is also proposed. The morphology and characteristics of the fabricated samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL), and electrical measurements. This finding offers a new way of thinking for the design and development of ethanol sensors based on Au nanoparticles embedded ZnO hierarchical structures.