Enhanced H2S gas sensing performance of networked CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensor

•CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticles were synthesized via a facile solvothermal route.•The CuO-ZnO composite sensor showed significantly higher response to H2S than the pristine CuO sensor.•The CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensor also showed more rapid response to H2S gas.•The underlying mechanism for the enhanced sensing performance of the composite sensor is discussed.

CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticles (CuO:ZnO = 4:1 by vol.%) were synthesized via a facile solvothermal route. The CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensor showed significantly enhanced H2S gas sensing performance compared to the pristine CuO and pristine ZnO nanoparticle sensors. The pristine CuO, pristine ZnO and CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensors showed responses of approximately 335%, 161% and 1035%, respectively, to 2 ppm of H2S at 225 °C. The CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensor also showed more rapid response to H2S gas than the pristine CuO and ZnO nanoparticle sensors. Both the pristine CuO nanoparticle and CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensors showed selectivity for H2S gas over other gases. The underlying mechanism for the enhanced sensing performance of the CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensor is discussed.

Graphical abstractThe CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensor showed stronger and faster response to H2S gas than its pure ZnO counterpart. Both the pure CuO and CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensors showed selectivity for H2S gas over other gases.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide