Highly sensitive and low detection limit of ethanol gas sensor based on CeO2 nanodot-decorated ZnSnO3 hollow microspheres

In order to achieve high response, excellent selectivity and stable detection of ethanol vapor, CeO2 nanodotdecorated ZnSnO3 hollow microspheres with heterostructures that could meet the requirements of ethanol detection were obtained through a convenient hydrothermal method. The prepared uniform nanodot-decorated hollow microspheres were observed by SEM and TEM, it is noticeable that CeO2 nanodots of about 10 nm were uniformly anchored on the surface of ZnSnO3 hollow microspheres with a diameter of 0.8-1.4 mu m. Compared with the pure ZnSnO3, the 15% CeO2/ZnSnO3 hollow microspheres exhibited higher response (219.2) to 100 ppm ethanol, superior selectivity (ethanol) and rapid response recovery. In addition, a scientific and effective method was used to calculate the ultra-low theoretical gas detection limit (11.3 ppb) of the CeO2 nanodotdecorated ZnSnO3 hollow microspheres. The outstanding gas sensing properties were attributed to the existence of large amounts of dissociative oxygen and the n-n heterojunction between ZnSnO3 and CeO2. Meanwhile, our work confirmed that CeO2 nanodot-decorated ZnSnO3 hollow microspheres have satisfied the application needs of ethanol detection.

Automated summary

CeO2 nanodot-decorated ZnSnO3 hollow microspheres with excellent ethanol detection properties, including high response, superior selectivity and stable detection, were obtained through a hydrothermal method.