Fabrication and characterization of C2H2 gas sensor based on Ag-loaded vertical ZnO nanowires array

The present contribution examines the development of acetylene (C2H2) gas sensor through the successful immobilization of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) onto the surface of vertically aligned ZnO nanowires (NWs) array. The sensing material was synthesized by a facile seed mediated hydrothermal-RF magnetron sputtering method. The grown structure with large effective surface area, high aspect ratio, and ordered structural orientation showed remarkable enhancement on the sensing properties of C2H2 at low temperature. A maximum response of 30.8 (to 1000 ppm) with a broad detection range (1-1000 ppm) towards C2H2 was obtained at an optimum operating temperature of 220 degrees C. The superior sensing features along with excellent selectivity and stability indicate the sensor a promising candidate for practical applications. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.