Highly selective ethanol sensing properties of hydrothermally synthesized cerium orthovanadate (CeVO4) nanorods

• CeVO4 nanorods were synthesized hydrothermally using precursor solution with pH=3.
• Gas sensor based on CeVO4 nanorods exhibits lower detection threshold of 10 ppm.
• Highest sensitivity was achieved at 250 °C (the optimum working temperature).
• Sensor shows higher selectivity towards ethanol as compared to other gases.
• Gas sensing mechanism is explained on the basis of semiconducting model.

CeVO4 nanorods were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method. Active sites on the sensor׳s surface were provided by acidic media to the precursor solution. Gas sensor based on CeVO4 nanorods exhibits significant response towards ethanol with high selectivity, below the breadth analyzer limit (200 ppm) at the optimum working temperature of 250 °C. Redox based conduction model of semiconductors is used to explain this promising sensing behavior and a suitable sensing mechanism is also established.