1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China 2. Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China 3. Modern Technology Center, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu 241000, China
A sea-urchin-like CuO/ZnO porous nanostructure is obtained via a simple solution method followed by a calcination process. There are abundant pores among the resulting nanowires due to the thermal decomposition of copper–zinc hydroxide carbonate. The specific surface area of the as-prepared CuO/ZnO sample is determined as 31.3 m2·g−1. The gas-sensing performance of the sea-urchin-like CuO/ZnO sensor is studied by exposure to volatile organic compound (VOC) vapors. With contrast to a pure porous sea-urchin-like ZnO sensor, the sea-urchin-like CuO/ZnO sensor shows superior gas-sensing behavior for acetone, formaldehyde, methanol, toluene, isopropanol and ethanol. It exhibits a high response of 52.6–100 ppm acetone vapor, with short response/recovery time. This superior sensing behavior is mainly ascribed to the porous nanowire-assembled structure with abundant p–n heterojunctions.
W B Qin, Z Y Yuan, H L Gao, et al.. Perovskite-structured LaCoO3 modified ZnO gas sensor and investigation on its gas sensing mechanism by first principle. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2021, 341: 130015 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2021.130015
2
Z J Han, Y Qi, Z Y Yang, et al.. Recent advances and perspectives on constructing metal oxide semiconductor gas sensing materials for efficient formaldehyde detection. Journal of Materials Chemistry C: Materials for Optical and Electronic Devices, 2020, 8(38): 13169–13188 https://doi.org/10.1039/D0TC03750H
3
W Ge, X H Zhang, X T Ge, et al.. Synthesis of α-Fe2O3/SiO2 nanocomposites for the enhancement of acetone sensing performance. Materials Research Bulletin, 2021, 141: 111379 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2021.111379
4
L Zhu, W Zeng, Y Q Li. A non-oxygen adsorption mechanism for hydrogen detection of nanostructured SnO2 based sensors. Materials Research Bulletin, 2019, 109: 108–116 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2018.09.033
5
K Kim, P G Choi, T Itoh, et al.. Catalyst-free highly sensitive SnO2 nanosheet gas sensors for parts per billion-level detection of acetone. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2020, 12(46): 51637–51644 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c15273
pmid: 33146998
6
D Z Zhang, Q Mi, D Y Wang, et al.. MXene/Co3O4 composite based formaldehyde sensor driven by ZnO/MXene nanowire arrays piezoelectric nanogenerator. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2021, 339: 129923 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2021.129923
7
M S Wang, Y W Wang, X J Li, et al.. WO3 porous nanosheet arrays with enhanced low temperature NO2 gas sensing performance. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2020, 316: 128050 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2020.128050
8
F X Liang, L Liang, X Y Zhao, et al.. Mesoporous anodic α-Fe2O3 interferometer for organic vapor sensing application. RSC Advances, 2018, 8(54): 31121–31128 https://doi.org/10.1039/C8RA06261G
9
E A N Simonetti, T C de Oliveira, D E D Machado, et al.. TiO2 as a gas sensor: the novel carbon structures and noble metals as new elements for enhancing sensitivity — A review. Ceramics International, 2021, 47(13): 17844–17876 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2021.03.189
C C Li, H G Zhou, S C Yang, et al.. Preadsorption of O2 on the exposed (0 0 1) facets of ZnO nanostructures for enhanced sensing of gaseous acetone. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2019, 2(10): 6144–6151 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.9b00942
12
S K Gupta, S Mohan, M Valdez, et al.. Enhanced sensitivity of caterpillar-like ZnO nanostructure towards amine vapor sensing. Materials Research Bulletin, 2021, 142: 111419 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2021.111419
13
Q C Li, D Chen, J M Miao, et al.. Highly sensitive sensor based on ordered porous ZnO nanosheets for ethanol detecting application. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2021, 326: 128952 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2020.128952
14
J P Li, Y F Yang, Q Wang, et al.. Design of size-controlled Au nanoparticles loaded on the surface of ZnO for ethanol detection. CrystEngComm, 2021, 23(4): 783–792 https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CE01318H
15
H T Wang, Y Y Li, C C Wang, et al.. N-pentanol sensor based on ZnO nanorods functionalized with Au catalysts. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2021, 339: 129888 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2021.129888
16
J Wang, C Y Hu, Y Xia, et al.. Highly sensitive, fast and reversible NO2 sensors at room-temperature utilizing nonplasmonic electrons of ZnO/Pd hybrids. Ceramics International, 2020, 46(6): 8462–8468 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2019.12.081
17
S Wang, F Jia, X Wang, et al.. Fabrication of ZnO nanoparticles modified by uniformly dispersed Ag nanoparticles: enhancement of gas sensing performance. ACS Omega, 2020, 5(10): 5209–5218 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.9b04243
pmid: 32201809
18
Y Gong, X F Wu, J Y Chen, et al.. Enhanced gas-sensing performance of metal@ZnO core–shell nanoparticles towards ppb-ppm level benzene: the role of metal–ZnO hetero-interfaces. New Journal of Chemistry, 2019, 43(5): 2220–2230 https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NJ04621B
19
J J Liu, L Y Zhang, J J Fan, et al.. Triethylamine gas sensor based on Pt-functionalized hierarchical ZnO microspheres. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2021, 331: 129425 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2020.129425
20
U T Nakate, R Ahmad, P Patil, et al.. Improved selectivity and low concentration hydrogen gas sensor application of Pd sensitized heterojunction n-ZnO/p-NiO nanostructures. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2019, 797: 456–464 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2019.05.111
21
Y C Liang, Y C Chang. The effect of Ni content on gas-sensing behaviors of ZnO–NiO p–n composite thin films grown through radio-frequency cosputtering of ceramic ZnO and NiO targets. CrystEngComm, 2020, 22(13): 2315–2326 https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CE00052C
22
P T Hung, P D Hoat, V X Hien, et al.. Growth and NO2-sensing properties of biaxial p-SnO/n-ZnO heterostructured nanowires. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2020, 12(30): 34274–34282 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c04974
pmid: 32639143
23
S K Min, H Kim, Y Noh, et al.. Fabrication of highly sensitive and selective acetone sensor using p-Co3O4 nanoparticle-decorated n-ZnO nanowires. Thin Solid Films, 2020, 714: 138249 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2020.138249
24
S Nithya, R Sharan, M Roy, et al.. Ni doping in CuO: a highly sensitive electrode for sensing ammonia in ppm level using lanthanum gallate based electrolyte. Materials Research Bulletin, 2019, 118: 110478 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.materresbull.2019.05.003
25
S Kulkarni, R Ghosh. A simple approach for sensing and accurate prediction of multiple organic vapors by sensors based on CuO nanowires. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2021, 335: 129701 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2021.129701
26
A Nanda, V Singh, R K Jha, et al.. Growth-temperature dependent unpassivated oxygen bonds determine the gas sensing abilities of chemical vapor deposition-grown CuO thin films. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2021, 13(18): 21936–21943 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c01085
pmid: 33913692
27
X Wang, S H Li, L L Xie, et al.. Low-temperature and highly sensitivity H2S gas sensor based on ZnO/CuO composite derived from bimetal metal-organic frameworks. Ceramics International, 2020, 46(10): 15858–15866 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2020.03.133
H B Na, X F Zhang, M Zhang, et al.. A fast response/recovery ppb-level H2S gas sensor based on porous CuO/ZnO heterostructural tubule via confined effect of absorbent cotton. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2019, 297: 126816 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2019.126816
30
J E Lee, C K Lim, H J Park, et al.. ZnO–CuO core–hollow cube nanostructures for highly sensitive acetone gas sensors at the ppb level. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2020, 12(31): 35688–35697 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c08593
pmid: 32618181
31
Y H Navale, S T Navale, F J Stadler, et al.. Enhanced NO2 sensing aptness of ZnO nanowire/CuO nanoparticle heterostructure-based gas sensors. Ceramics International, 2019, 45(2): 1513–1522 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.10.022
32
J R Huang, Y J Dai, C P Gu, et al.. Preparation of porous flower-like CuO/ZnO nanostructures and analysis of their gas-sensing property. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2013, 575: 115–122 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.04.094
33
K C Xian, B Nie, Z G Li, et al.. TiO2 decorated porous carbonaceous network structures offer confinement, catalysis and thermal conductivity for effective hydrogen storage of LiBH4. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2021, 407: 127156 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.127156
34
C S Chen, X Y Liu, Q Fang, et al.. Self-assembly synthesis of CuO/ZnO hollow microspheres and their photocatalytic performance under natural sunlight. Vacuum, 2020, 174: 109198 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2020.109198
35
X Y Zhang, X S He, Z W Kang, et al.. Waste eggshell-derived dual-functional CuO/ZnO/eggshell nanocomposites: (photo)catalytic reduction and bacterial inactivation. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2019, 7(18): 15762–15771 https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b04083
36
S Zhao, Y B Shen, F L Hao, et al.. p–n Junctions based on CuO-decorated ZnO nanowires for ethanol sensing application. Applied Surface Science, 2021, 538: 148140 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2020.148140
37
K Sahu, A Bisht, S Kuriakose, et al.. Two-dimensional CuO–ZnO nanohybrids with enhanced photocatalytic performance for removal of pollutants. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 2020, 137: 109223 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpcs.2019.109223
38
C Qin, Y Wang, Y X Gong, et al.. CuO–ZnO hetero-junctions decorated graphitic carbon nitride hybrid nanocomposite: hydrothermal synthesis and ethanol gas sensing application. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2019, 770: 972–980 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.08.205
39
C Wang, J W Zhu, S M Liang, et al.. Reduced graphene oxide decorated with CuO–ZnO hetero-junctions: towards high selective gas-sensing property to acetone. Journal of Materials Chemistry A: Materials for Energy and Sustainability, 2014, 2(43): 18635–18643 https://doi.org/10.1039/C4TA03931A
40
H J Li, N Zhang, X L Zhao, et al.. Modulation of TEA and methanol gas sensing by ion-exchange based on a sacrificial template 3D diamond-shaped MOF. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2020, 315: 128136 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2020.128136
41
M L Yin, F Wang, H B Fan, et al.. Heterojunction CuO@ZnO microcubes for superior p-type gas sensor application. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2016, 672: 374–379 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.02.197
42
C Yang, X Cao, S Wang, et al.. Complex-directed hybridization of CuO/ZnO nanostructures and their gas sensing and photocatalytic properties. Ceramics International, 2015, 41(1): 1749–1756 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2014.09.120
43
X Liu, Y Sun, M Yu, et al.. Enhanced ethanol sensing properties of ultrathin ZnO nanosheets decorated with CuO nanoparticles. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2018, 255: 3384–3390 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2017.09.165
44
Y B Zhang, J Yin, L Li, et al.. Enhanced ethanol gas-sensing properties of flower-like p-CuO/n-ZnO heterojunction nanorods. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2014, 202: 500–507 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2014.05.111
45
Z Y Yuan, C Yang, F L Meng. Strategies for improving the sensing performance of semiconductor gas sensors for high-performance formaldehyde detection: a review. Chemosensors, 2021, 9(7): 179 https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors9070179
46
M A Han, H J Kim, H C Lee, et al.. Effects of porosity and particle size on the gas sensing properties of SnO2 films. Applied Surface Science, 2019, 481: 133–137 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.03.043
47
H B Ren, W Zhao, L Y Wang, et al.. Preparation of porous flower-like SnO2 micro/nano structures and their enhanced gas sensing property. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2015, 653: 611–618 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.09.065
48
S F Shao, X Chen, Y Y Chen, et al.. ZnO nanosheets modified with graphene quantum dots and SnO2 quantum nanoparticles for room-temperature H2S sensing. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2020, 3(6): 5220–5230 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.0c00642
49
Q A Drmosh, Y A Al Wajih, I O Alade, et al.. Engineering the depletion layer of Au-modified ZnO/Ag core–shell films for high-performance acetone gas sensing. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2021, 338: 129851 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2021.129851
50
T Lin, X Lv, Z Hu, et al.. Semiconductor metal oxides as chemoresistive sensors for detecting volatile organic compounds. Sensors, 2019, 19(2): 233 https://doi.org/10.3390/s19020233
pmid: 30634523
51
S Samadi, M Nouroozshad, S A Zakaria. ZnO@SiO2/rGO core/shell nanocomposite: a superior sensitive, selective and reproducible performance for 1-propanol gas sensor at room temperature. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 2021, 271: 124884 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2021.124884
52
C H Han, X W Li, C L Shao, et al.. Composition-controllable p-CuO/n-ZnO hollow nanofibers for high performance H2S detection. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2019, 285: 495–503 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2019.01.077
53
Y H Navale, S T Navale, F J Stadler, et al.. Enhanced NO2 sensing aptness of ZnO nanowire/CuO nanoparticle heterostructure-based gas sensors. Ceramics International, 2019, 45(2): 1513–1522 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2018.10.022