Issue 21, 2022

A ZnO/ZnFe2O4 n–n heterojunction and Au loading synergistically improve the sensing performance of acetone

Abstract

In this work, Au nanoparticle-loaded ZnO/ZnFe2O4 (Au-ZnO/ZnFe2O4) microspheres were prepared using a combination of a two-step hydrothermal process and a co-precipitation method. The SEM and TEM analyses showed that the synthesized Au-ZnO/ZnFe2O4 samples were microspheres with a yolk–shell structure assembled from nanosheets. Gas-sensitive performance tests indicated that Au-ZnO/ZnFe2O4 showed the highest response to 100 ppm acetone (18.18), higher than those of ZnFe2O4 (8.4) and ZnO/ZnFe2O4 (11.6). In addition, the optimum operating temperature of Au-ZnO/ZnFe2O4 decreased from 279 to 206 °C compared to ZnFe2O4 and ZnO/ZnFe2O4. In addition, Au-ZnO/ZnFe2O4 yolk–shell microspheres exhibited fast response and recovery times (4 and 23 s, respectively). The sensor has a lower limit of acetone detection (0.7 ppm) at 85% RH and is able to effectively differentiate diabetic patients from healthy subjects by detecting acetone in their exhaled breath. The enhanced response of Au-ZnO/ZnFe2O4-based sensor is attributed not only to its high specific surface area but also to the synergistic effect of the n–n heterojunction structure of ZnO-ZnFe2O4 and the catalysis of Au nanoparticles.

Graphical abstract: A ZnO/ZnFe2O4 n–n heterojunction and Au loading synergistically improve the sensing performance of acetone

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
14 Jul 2022
Accepted
07 Sep 2022
First published
15 Sep 2022

Inorg. Chem. Front., 2022,9, 5663-5672

A ZnO/ZnFe2O4 n–n heterojunction and Au loading synergistically improve the sensing performance of acetone

Q. Qin, A. Li, Y. Fan and X. Zhang, Inorg. Chem. Front., 2022, 9, 5663 DOI: 10.1039/D2QI01517J

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