Ethanol sensor based on ZnO and Au-doped ZnO nanowires

ZnO nanowires and Au-doped ZnO nanowires were prepared by oxidation reaction. The oxidation was performed by heating zinc powder and a mixture of zinc and 1 wt% gold powder which was pressed into a tube shape at 600 °C for 24 h. The ethanol sensors based on ZnO nanowires were simply fabricated by applying silver electrode at each end of the tube and inserting a coil heater into the tube. The ethanol sensing properties of ZnO nanowires were observed from the resistance change under ethanol vapor atmosphere. By considering the sensitivity and response time, the optimum operating temperature of the ethanol sensor was found to be 240 °C. Also, it was found that the sensitivity of the sensor based on Au-doped ZnO nanowires exhibits higher value than that of the sensor based on undoped ZnO nanowires.