High response and low detection limit of Gd-doped ZnO nanosheet composite gas sensor for ethanol gas

In this paper, the nanosheet structure of Gd-doped ZnO nanosheets is prepared by single-step hydrothermal method. The gas sensitive performance of Gd-doped ZnO nanosheets is investigated. The Gd-ZnO sensor not only improves the response to ethanol gas by a factor of 11.8 compared to a pure ZnO sensor, but also reduces the optimal working temperature by 20 °C. The response/recovery time are also reduced to varying degrees. In addition, the Gd-ZnO sensor maintain a certain performance to ethanol gas under different humidity conditions. This article elaborates on the sensing mechanism of the Gd-ZnO sensor for ethanol gas. The research in this paper opens up a new idea for improving zinc oxide sensors.