Lithium–sulfur batteries are strongly expected to be the next-generation energy storage technology due to their superior theoretical specific capacity and energy density.

ZnO/graphene (ZnO-G) hybrid composites are prepared via hydrothermal synthesis with graphite, N-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP), and Zn(NO3)2·6H2O as the precursors. The characterizations, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicate the formation of ZnO-G. Gas sensors were fabricated with ZnO-G composites and ZnO as sensing material, indicating that the response of the ZnO towards acetone was significantly enhanced by graphene doping. It was found that the ZnO-G sensor exhibits remarkably enhanced response of 13.3 at the optimal operating temperature of 280 °C to 100 ppm acetone, an improvement from 7.7 with pure ZnO.

ZnO–BP composites exhibit high sensitivity, fast response behavior, outstanding selectivity, and ultralow detection limit towards nitrogen dioxide due the large surface area, excellent carrier mobility, and enhanced charge transfer of ZnO–BP in the presence of BP. Moreover, the introduction of ZnO significantly enhances BP environmental stability.

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