Selective acetone sensor based on dumbbell-like ZnO with rapid response and recovery

Dumbbell-like ZnO microcrystals have been obtained through a facile solution method. The structure, morphology and optical properties of the as-prepared ZnO microcrystals have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence. The as-prepared ZnO microcrystals exhibit excellent sensing properties against acetone at an operating temperature of 300 degrees C. The response and recovery times are found to be 1.5 and 3 s, respectively. Moreover, the sensor holds the successful discrimination between acetone and ethanol, which makes our product a good candidate in fabricating highly selective sensors in practice. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.