Synthesis of ZnO-CuO flower-like hetero-nanostructures as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) sensor at room temperature

Abstract

ZnO-CuO flower-like hetero-nanostructures were successfully prepared by combining hydrothermal and dip coating methods. Flower-like hetero-nanostructures of ZnO-CuO were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and UV-Vis. The sensing properties of ZnO-CuO flower-like hetero-nanostructures to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were evaluated in a chamber containing acetone or isopropanol gas at room temperature. The sensitivity of ZnO-CuO flower-like hetero-nanostructures to VOCs was enhanced compared to that of pure leafage-like ZnO nanostructures. Response and recovery times were about 5 s and 6 s to 50 ppm acetone, and 10 s and 8 s to 50 ppm isopropanol, respectively. The sensing performance of ZnO-CuO flower-like hetero-nanostructures was attributed to the addition of CuO that led to formation of p-n junctions at the interface between the CuO and ZnO. In addition, the sensing mechanism was briefly discussed.

The ZnO-CuO Nanoporous Composite Synthesized using Gum Arabic (Acacia senegalensis) as an Emerging Nanolarvicide for Culex quinquefasciatus Larvae Management

“…It was reported that low transmittance, i.e. below 380 nm, indicates strong absorbance for ZnO-CuO nanocomposite [18].…”

“…The analysis at various resolutions showed that is the composite is nanoporous and has an irregular shape (Figure 3). However, the morphological structure of ZnO-CuO observed involve nanowire, nanorod, flower-like, spherinoid, nanoflakes, and networked flakes by Zhu et al [24], Jung et al [25], Sabry et al [18], Sakib et al [19], Saravanakkumar et al [21] and Allaf and Hope-Weeks [23], respectively.…”