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A high sensitive and low detection limit of formaldehyde gas sensor based on hierarchical flower-like CuO nanostructure fabricated by sol–gel method

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Abstract

The hierarchical flower-like CuO nanostructure was synthesized by a facile sol–gel method without template. Indirectly-heated sensors are fabricated by coating the sol–gel on ceramic tubes with signal electrodes and subsequent annealing. The obtained nanostructures are analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Their gas sensing performances were investigated. The results indicated that the sensor based on hierarchical flower-like CuO exhibited excellent sensing properties towards ethanol, formaldehyde, acetone and dimethylbenzene. The sensor based on the CuO exhibited the optimal gas sensing performance, giving a ppb-level detection limit and a high response (Rg/Ra) of 1.378 to 50 ppb formaldehyde at 250 °C. The response and recovery time of the flower-like CuO nanostructure sensor are 11.9 and 8.4 s, respectively. The significantly enhanced sensing properties to formaldehyde could be attributed to the changes in crystallite size and specific surface area. The results indicate that the hierarchical flower-like CuO nanostructure gas sensor can be a simple and useful platform for formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds sensing application.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 61204106) and Provincial Natural Science Foundation of Gansu (No. 1107RJZA090).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Microelectronics, School of Physics Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu Province, China

    Heng Deng, Hai-rong Li, Fang Wang, Chao-xin Yuan, Su Liu, Peng Wang, Long-zhen Xie, Yong-zhe Sun & Fang-zhi Chang

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  1. Heng Deng
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  2. Hai-rong Li
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  3. Fang Wang
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  4. Chao-xin Yuan
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  5. Su Liu
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Correspondence to Hai-rong Li or Su Liu.

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We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work. There is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled.

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Deng, H., Li, Hr., Wang, F. et al. A high sensitive and low detection limit of formaldehyde gas sensor based on hierarchical flower-like CuO nanostructure fabricated by sol–gel method. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 27, 6766–6772 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-4626-y

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