Light-driven room temperature methane gas sensor based on Ag modified flower-like ZnO microsphere

Abstract

In this work, light-driven technology is explored to study high-performance CH₄ sensing materials, which could work at room temperature. Pure ZnO was prepared with a solvothermal method and noble metal silver was impregnated onto it to obtain Ag–ZnO composites. The morphology, microstructure, chemical valence, and surface and optical properties of the composites were investigated. The results confirmed that pristine ZnO microspheres and Ag/ZnO microspheres with various silver concentrations were synthesized. Moreover, compared with pristine ZnO, the Ag/ZnO composites exhibit obvious visible light absorption properties and lower PL emission intensity. The sensing results showed that the 1.5 at% Ag/ZnO composite exhibited a superior response of 3.43, which is about a 206% improvement compared with pristine ZnO. The enhanced gas sensing mechanisms were discussed. This work serves as a contribution to developing room-temperature methane sensors.