Room temperature detection of n-butanol Ce-doped MOF:ZnO sensor under UV activation

Being one of toxic and flammable volatile organic compounds (VOC), n-butanol has brought about many potential health risks, there is an urgent demand for highly sensitive detection techniques to monitor its concentration in occupational environments and the air. In this paper, Ce-doped MOF:ZnO sensors under UV activation for room-temperature detection of n-butanol were synthesized by the co-precipitation method and systemically characterized by XRD, SEM, HRTEM, and XPS. The sensitive performances were evaluated by the use of a WS-30A gas sensor measurement system. The results showed that Ce doping has significantly enhanced the sensitivity of the MOF:ZnO sensors, and the response value of the 0.08 % Ce-doped ZnO sensor has achieved to 397.30, which was 9.32 times higher than that of the pristine MOF:ZnO. And the response and recovery times were 17 and 117 s respectively, demonstrating a speedy detection capability. In addition, the sensor gained excellent stability and reproducibility with special selectivity for n-butanol. The comprehensive achievements of this research would be promising to promote the development of volatile organic compound detection technology and beneficial to the well application in the fields of environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and public health.