Microstructure optimization and gas sensing improvement of ZnO spherical structure through yttrium doping

ZnO nanofibers has been successfully divided into nanoparticles through adjusting composition of precursor liquid by an electrospinning method and followed by calcination. The ZnO nanoparticles formed spherical structure, the spherical structure was optimized through yttrium (Y) doping and Y doped ZnO (ZnO:Y) had good gas sensing. The as-synthesized nanostructure was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller method, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, photoluminescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that the spherical structure was composed of ZnO nanoparticles, ZnO:Y nanoparticles had smaller grain size (−50 to 100 nm) and were more dispersed compared with pure ZnO (−100 to 150 nm grain size). The numerous oxygen species (O− and O2−) were adsorbed on the surface of ZnO:Y nanoparticles, the specific surface area of ZnO:Y structure (40.2 m2/g) was larger than pure ZnO (14.5 m2/g). The response of spherical ZnO:Y based sensor was higher than pure ZnO for the same acetic acid concentration. The results show ZnO:Y spherical structure could be a potential material for fabricating acetic acid sensors.