Filter paper-templated preparation of ZnO thin films and examination of their gas-sensing properties

ZnO thin films prepared by using quantitative filter paper as a template and Zn(CH3CO2)2·2H2O ethanol precursor solution were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effects of sample calcination temperature, precursor concentration and filter paper types were studied, and the growth process was investigated by infra-red (IR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA). The results show that samples soaked in a 1.5 mol/L Zn(CH3CO2)2·2H2O ethanol solution and calcined at 600 °C yield ZnO films of uniform particle size, approximately 30, 40 and 50 nm, for fast-, medium- and slow-speed filter papers, respectively. The formaldehyde gas sensing properties of the ZnO nanoparticles were tested, showing that the material prepared from fast-speed filter paper has a higher response to 120–205 ppm formaldehyde at 400 °C than that prepared from medium- or slow-speed paper, which depends on the particle size.

Graphical abstractZnO thin films were prepared by using quantitative filter paper as a template and 1.5 mol/L Zn(CH3CO2)2·2H2O ethanol solution and calcined at 600 °C. The ZnO nanoparticles prepared from fast-speed filter paper has a higher response to 120–205 ppm formaldehyde at 400 °C than those prepared from medium- or slow-speed paper.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide