A gold-doped zinc oxide (Au-ZnO)/exfoliated
tungsten diselenide
(exfoliated WSe2) nanocomposite-based gas sensor toward
benzene with high sensing properties was demonstrated. Epoxy resin
was used as the matrix of the Au-ZnO/exfoliated WSe2 nanocomposite
sensor. The straw-shaped Au-ZnO was synthesized by the hydrothermal
method, and WSe2 nanosheets (NSs) were prepared via hydrothermal
and liquid-phase exfoliation methods. The properties of Au-ZnO/exfoliated
WSe2 nanoheterostructures constructed by self-assembly
technology have been confirmed via a series of characterization methods.
The benzene-sensing performances of sensors were tested at 25 °C.
Compared with Au-ZnO, WSe2, and their composites, the Au-ZnO/exfoliated
WSe2 sensor has a significant performance improvement,
including a higher response and linear fit degree, better selectivity
and repeatability, and faster detection rate. The significantly enhanced
sensing properties of the Au-ZnO/exfoliated WSe2 sensor
can be ascribed to the doping of Au nanoparticles, the increase in
the specific surface area and adsorption sites of NSs after exfoliation,
and the cooperative interface combination of the ZnO/WSe2 heterojunction. Furthermore, the sensitivity mechanism of the composite
sensor to benzene was explored by density functional theory simulations.
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