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Enhanced gas sensing performance to ethanol of ZnO based on Ag modification by a simple solid-state reaction method

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Abstract

In this paper, silver (Ag) nanoparticles modified zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (Ag–ZnO) were prepared by a simple solid-state reaction. Zn(NO3)2·6H2O and AgNO3 were grinded and mixed in proportion and calcined at 500 °C for 2 h. The molar ratios of Ag to Zn in the precursors were 0, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.0 and 10.0%, respectively. The microstructure of Ag–ZnO before and after modification was observed by scanning electron microscope. The existence of Ag was proved by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectrum and Raman spectra. The lattice of ZnO after modification of Ag particles was changed. Ag-modified ZnO nanoparticles showed good gas sensitivity to ethanol due to the increasing oxygen vacancy amounts. The 5.0% modified Ag–ZnO based gas sensor obtained the fastest response recovery and the highest sensitivity to ethanol. The Ag–ZnO-based gas sensor will be a promising candidate in the application of ethanol detect.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Foundation of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. 62274141).

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  1. College of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Xuchang University, Xuchang, 461000, People’s Republic of China

    Yidong Zhang, Zhenwei Dong & Huimin Jia

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  1. Yidong Zhang
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YZ, conceptualization and writing. ZD, validation and analysis. HJ, funding acquisition.

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Correspondence to Yidong Zhang.

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Zhang, Y., Dong, Z. & Jia, H. Enhanced gas sensing performance to ethanol of ZnO based on Ag modification by a simple solid-state reaction method. Appl. Phys. A 129, 666 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-023-06952-z

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