Synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles with a novel combustion method and their C2H5OH gas sensing properties

A novel combustion method was developed to prepare zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs). The structure and morphology of as-prepared combustion products were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA–DSC), Raman spectra and Photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The sensor based on the as-prepared ZnO-NPs showed improved ethanol response compared to that based on commercial ZnO powder. With the concentration of ethanol vapor varying from 50 ppm to 300 ppm, the response and recovery times of ZnO-NPs sensor were all less than 10 s and 40 s, respectively. The gas sensing performance measurement indicated that the as-prepared ZnO-NPs exhibited high sensitive, selective gas sensing properties to ethanol. The results revealed that sol spray combustion method can be used as a very promising technique for preparing ZnO-NPs with excellent gas sensing properties.