A simple
one-step chemical
method is employed for the successful synthesis of CuO(50%)–ZnO(50%)
nanocomposites (NCs) and investigation of their gas sensing properties.
The X-ray diffraction studies revealed that these CuO–ZnO NCs
display a hexagonal wurtzite-type crystal structure. The average width
of 50–100 nm and length of 200–600 nm of the NCs were
confirmed by transmission electron microscopic images, and the 1:1
proportion of Cu and Zn composition was confirmed by energy-dispersive
spectra, i.e., CuO(50%)–ZnO(50%) NC studies. The CuO(50%)–ZnO(50%)
NCs exhibit superior gas sensing performance with outstanding selectivity
toward NO2 gas at a working temperature of 200 °C. Moreover, these
NCs were used for the indirect evaluation of NO2 via electrochemical
detection of NO2– (as NO2 converts
into NO2– once it reacts with moisture,
resulting into acid rain, i.e., indirect evaluation of NO2). As compared with other known modified electrodes, CuO(50%)–ZnO(50%)
NCs show an apparent oxidation of NO2– with a larger peak current for a wider linear range of nitrite concentration
from 20 to 100 mM. We thus demonstrate that the as-synthesized CuO(50%)–ZnO(50%)
NCs act as a promising low-cost NO2 sensor and further
confirm their potential toward tunable gas sensors (electrochemical
and solid state) (Scheme 1).
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.