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NO2 sensing properties of 3D flower-like ZnO nanostructure decorated with thin porous petals synthesized using a simple sol–gel drop-casting method

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Abstract

A three-dimensional flower-like ZnO nanostructured film decorated with the thin porous ‘petals’ is synthesized using an inexpensive sol–gel drop-casting method, and the NO2 detection characteristics of the nanostructured film are studied. The gas-sensing study shows higher sensitivity with selectivity toward NO2 gas, exhibiting good reproducibility and stability. The as-synthesized nanostructured 3D flower-like ZnO film shows excellent NO2 sensing performance, with a maximum gas response of 23.3 for 100 ppm NO2 gas at an operating temperature of 180 °C. A detailed gas-sensing study reveals that the enormous porous petals with various inter-connected pores fused on the flower-like ZnO nanostructure improve the adsorption of gas molecules; consequently, the synthesized ZnO nanostructure exhibits a superior level of NO2 gas-sensing activity. This study provides a promising path towards the development of a highly sensitive NO2 gas sensor and an easy way to fabricate the 3D morphology decorated with exceedingly porous ‘petals’.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the 2020 Yeungnam University Research Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, 38541, Republic of Korea

    Sagar M. Mane, Ji Seong Go & Jae Cheol Shin

  2. Department of Physics, DKASC College, Ichalkaranji, Maharashtra, 416115, India

    Amol R. Nimbalkar

  3. SIT, Polytechnic, Yadrav, Ichalkaranji, Maharashtra, 416121, India

    Nilam B. Patil

  4. Department of Physics, Vidnyan Mahavidyalaya, Sangola, Maharashtra, 413307, India

    Shankar S. Dhasade & Jagannath V. Thombare

  5. S. M. Joshi College, Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra, 411028, India

    Arvind S. Burungale

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Mane, S.M., Nimbalkar, A.R., Go, J.S. et al. NO2 sensing properties of 3D flower-like ZnO nanostructure decorated with thin porous petals synthesized using a simple sol–gel drop-casting method. Appl. Phys. A 127, 13 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-020-04152-7

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