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Article

Effect of Alkali Source on Crystal Regulation and Ethanol Gas Sensing Properties of Nano-ZnO

1
Zijin School of Geology and Mining, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
2
Zijin Mining Group Co., Longyan 364200, China
3
Fujian Key Laboratory of Green Extraction and High-Value Utilization of New Energy Metals, Fuzhou 350108, China
4
Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Sensors 2024, 24(23), 7623; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24237623
Submission received: 26 October 2024 / Revised: 26 November 2024 / Accepted: 26 November 2024 / Published: 28 November 2024
(This article belongs to the Section Chemical Sensors)

Abstract

This study investigates the ethanol gas-sensing mechanisms of ZnO nanocrystals with distinct morphologies, synthesized via a hydrothermal method using various alkali sources. Significant differences in the gas-sensing performance and morphology of ZnO samples synthesized with ammonium carbonate (Na2CO3), hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA), ammonia solution (NH3·H2O), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) were observed. ZnO were confirmed to be impurity-free through XRD analysis, and their morphological features were characterized by SEM. TEM, XPS, and FTIR were employed to further analyze the crystal structure and binding energy of ZnO. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, density functional theory (DFT) calculations combined with electron depletion layer theory were applied to assess charge transfer processes and identify the most sensitive ZnO crystal planes for ethanol detection. Experimental gas-sensing tests, conducted across 5–1000 ppm ethanol concentrations within a 150–350 °C range, showed that ZnO prepared with Na2CO3, HMTA, and NaOH was responsive at high ethanol concentrations as low as 100 °C, while ZnO synthesized with ammonia required 250 °C to exhibit sensitivity. All ZnO samples demonstrated excellent recovery at low concentrations at 250 °C. By integrating experimental findings with theoretical insights, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of ethanol gas-sensing mechanisms in ZnO, highlighting the role of crystal plane engineering and charge transfer dynamics as critical factors influencing gas response.
Keywords: gas sensor; ZnO; ethanoll; DFT study gas sensor; ZnO; ethanoll; DFT study

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Liao, Y.; Qiu, L.; Ouyang, Y.; Feng, D.; Huang, S.; Zhang, Z.; Xie, X.; Ke, J.; Liu, T.; Chen, X.; et al. Effect of Alkali Source on Crystal Regulation and Ethanol Gas Sensing Properties of Nano-ZnO. Sensors 2024, 24, 7623. https://doi.org/10.3390/s24237623

AMA Style

Liao Y, Qiu L, Ouyang Y, Feng D, Huang S, Zhang Z, Xie X, Ke J, Liu T, Chen X, et al. Effect of Alkali Source on Crystal Regulation and Ethanol Gas Sensing Properties of Nano-ZnO. Sensors. 2024; 24(23):7623. https://doi.org/10.3390/s24237623

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liao, Yinying, Lu Qiu, Yunfei Ouyang, Dayang Feng, Shiyi Huang, Zhaoyang Zhang, Xinyao Xie, Junwei Ke, Tianhao Liu, Xiangxiang Chen, and et al. 2024. "Effect of Alkali Source on Crystal Regulation and Ethanol Gas Sensing Properties of Nano-ZnO" Sensors 24, no. 23: 7623. https://doi.org/10.3390/s24237623

APA Style

Liao, Y., Qiu, L., Ouyang, Y., Feng, D., Huang, S., Zhang, Z., Xie, X., Ke, J., Liu, T., Chen, X., Bi, H., & Zuo, W. (2024). Effect of Alkali Source on Crystal Regulation and Ethanol Gas Sensing Properties of Nano-ZnO. Sensors, 24(23), 7623. https://doi.org/10.3390/s24237623

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