Highly sensitive n-butanol sensor based on ZnO nanosheets modified with Nd2O3

A series of Nd 2 O 3 -decorated ZnO nanosheets were successfully synthesized through a facile hydrothermal approach for n-butanol sensing applications. The results demonstrate that Nd 2 O 3 modification significantly improves the sensing performance. The optimal sensor with 7.5 wt% Nd 2 O 3 loading (denoted as Nd2) achieves a high response of 1503.73 toward 100 ppm n-butanol (68 times higher than that of pure ZnO), along with a rapid recovery time of 3 s and a low detection limit of 500 ppb. Furthermore, the sensor exhibits excellent selectivity against common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and long-term stability. Comprehensive performance analyses reveal that the performance enhancement originates from the synergistic effect of two fundamental mechanisms: the formation of Nd 2 O 3 /ZnO heterojunctions that effectively modulate the electron-depletion layer, and the increased oxygen vacancy concentration that promotes surface redox kinetics. This work not only highlights the application potential of Nd 2 O 3 /ZnO heterostructures in n-butanol detection, but also provides a feasible material design strategy for developing high-performance gas sensors.