Selective detection of CO at room temperature with CuO nanoplatelets sensor for indoor air quality monitoring manifested by crystallinity

The fabrication of sensitive CO gas sensors with low ppm detection is very imperative for human health, since longer exposure to CO gas can lead to dizziness, loss of consciousness and vomiting, and in severe cases death. As a result, herein, we report on the CO room temperature gas sensing characteristics of CuO nanoplatelets based gas sensor synthesized using the hydrothermal method at 100 and 200 degrees C for various reaction times. A size-dependent contraction on the crystallite sizes, due to the decrease in platelet size, was observed for the CuO nanoplatelets grown at 200 degrees C, at various reaction times. The crystal quality and crystallinity improved for nanoplatelets prepared at 100 degrees C and decreased for those prepared at 200 degrees C at various reactions times. The CuO-B-1 based sensor prepared for 6 h at 200 degrees C demonstrated enhanced response (R-a-R-g/R-a = 15) and rapid response time (ca. 81 s) towards 20 ppm CO gas (in 35% relative humidity) at room temperature, pleasing multiple parameters required for a good sensor. The improved sensing performance for CuO-B-1 is justified by enhanced crystallinity, resulting from low resistivity and high carrier mobility, which resulted in a more pronounced change in sensor resistance compared to its counterparts. The higher stability for the CuO-B-1 based sensor in the presence of relative humidity makes it a suitable candidate for detection of CO in a normal environment. Furthermore, the possible sensing mechanism of the CuO-B-1 based sensor towards CO gas is discussed.