Visible-Light-Driven Room Temperature NO2 Gas Sensor Based on Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance: The Case of Gold Nanoparticle Decorated Zinc Oxide Nanorods (ZnO NRs)

In this work, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas sensors based on zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) decorated with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) working under visible-light illumination with different wavelengths at room temperature are presented. The contribution of localized surface plasmon resonant (LSPR) by Au NPs attached to the ZnO NRs is demonstrated. According to our results, the presence of LSPR not only extends the functionality of ZnO NRs towards longer wavelengths (green light) but also increases the response at shorter wavelengths (blue light) by providing new inter-band gap energetic states. Finally, the sensing mechanism based on LSPR Au NPs is proposed.

Automated summary

This work presents nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas sensors based on zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) decorated with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) that function under visible-light illumination. The study demonstrates the contribution of localized surface plasmon resonant (LSPR) by Au NPs attached to ZnO NRs. The presence of LSPR extends the functionality of ZnO NRs and increases the response at different wavelengths.