2D ultrathin Co3O4 nanosheet array deposited on 3D carbon foam for enhanced ethanol gas sensing application

Gas sensing or gas detection with high sensitivity and selectivity is of extreme importance for monitoring the change of concentration of gases in various environments. In the present work, the ethanol gas sensing material based on two-dimensional (2D) mesoporous Co3O4 nanosheet array in situ formed on three-dimensional (3D) N-doped carbon foam (NCF) was fabricated by hydrothermal and annealing processes. The 2D mesoporous Co3O4 nanosheets have an average thickness of ca.20 nm and average pore diameter and specific surface area of about 2.3 nm and 444.3 m(2) g(-1), respectively. Due to the unique nanostructure, the sensing material exhibited low operation temperature and high sensitivity for ethanol gas sensing. The optimum working temperature and the limit of detection (LOD) of the composite for ethanol gas detection can reach 100 degrees C and 0.2 ppm, respectively. The present 2D/3D metal oxide/carbon hybrid nanostructure shows a novel and promising platform for gas sensing applications. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.