Novel and facile synthesis of randomly interconnected ZnO nanoplatelets using spray pyrolysis and their room temperature sensing characteristics

• ZnO thin films were deposited on glass substrates using spray pyrolysis technique.
• Randomly interconnected nanoplatelet morphology was observed.
• ZnO nanoplatelets showed a better room temperature response towards acetaldehyde.
• ZnO film was highly selective towards acetaldehyde than ethanol, methanol, etc.
• The developed sensor can be used to analyze the meat spoilage level.

Randomly interconnected zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoplatelets were successfully deposited on glass substrates using simple chemical spray pyrolysis technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern confirmed that the nanoplatelets were highly polycrystalline in nature with hexagonal wurtzite structure. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) image revealed the formation of randomly interconnected nanoplatelets with no visible defects on their surface. The thickness of the nanoplatelets was found to be in the range of 110–130 nm. The optical absorbance spectra showed no sharp absorption edge and the optical band gap was found to be 3.23 eV. Acetaldehyde sensing characteristics of ZnO nanoplatelets at room temperature were investigated. The selectivity of ZnO nanoplatelets towards acetaldehyde was found to be significant in comparison with the other gases like ethanol, methanol, ammonia, acetone, formaldehyde and toluene.

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