Rapid synthesis and characterization of hybrid ZnO@Au core-shell nanorods for high performance, low temperature NO2 gas sensor applications

- Hybrid ZnO@Au core-shell nanorods were developed using rapid chemical method that can be used as a high performance, low temperature NO2 gas sensor.
- Surface defect analysis (PL and XPS) clearly illustrates the presence of surface oxygen species and Zn interstitials involved in charge transport properties in-turn affecting gas sensing properties.
- Hybrid ZnO@Au core-shell nanorods establish enhanced gas sensing performance at 150 °C compared to ZnO (300 °C) with a lower detection limit of 500 ppb using conventional electrodes.
- The enhanced performance of ZnO@Au core-shell nanorods based sensor was owing to the presence of Au nanoclusters on the surface of ZnO nanorods which is attributed to the formation of Schottky contacts at the interfaces leading to sensitization effects.
- The hybrid material found to be selective toward NO2 gas and highly stable in nature.