High performance and low detection limit isopropanol gas sensor based on 3D ZnSnO3 nanocubes co-catalyzed by Au nanoparticles and ZrO2

In this paper, Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) loaded ZrO 2 /ZnSnO 3 nanocubes are prepared through hydrothermal route and chemical reduction method. The crystal structure, morphology, element distribution, chemical composition, specific surface area and pore size of ZrO 2 /ZnSnO 3 nanocubes are described with XRD, TEM, XPS and BET. Interestingly, the incorporation of Zr ions induces the fragmentation of the edge of ZnSnO 3 nanocubes, which enhance specific surface area of ZrO 2 /ZnSnO 3 nanocubes. The response of ZnSnO 3 materials for isopropanol is increased through doping ZrO 2 and modifying AuNPs. The 1.5 at% AuNPs-loaded 5 at% ZrO 2 /ZnSnO 3 nanocubes presents a higher response to 100 ppm isopropanol with a fast response/recovery time (3/4 s) at the operating temperature of 260℃. And the generation of ZnSnO 3 , ZrO 2 and AuNPs heterojunctions contributes to raise the isopropanol response. In addition, the catalysis of ZrO 2 and AuNPs also can increase their reaction speed between absorbed oxygen and isopropanol molecules. This research results provide a new scheme for the development of isopropanol sensor.