ZnO Nanosheets Decorated with Ag-Pt Nanoparticles for Selective Detection of Ethanol

Abstract

Zinc oxide nanosheets were synthesized using a facile solvothermal route and decorated with presynthesized Ag-Pt nanoparticles to design a selective ethanol gas sensor working at a relatively lower temperature. The produced nanostructures were engaged via several characterization techniques such as field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to investigate the topographical and structural properties as well as elemental composition. Then, the nanostructures were utilized to fabricate gas sensor devices and deployed to estimate ethanol gas sensing capabilities to optimize the synergistic effect of Ag and Pt concentration in Ag–Pt bimetallic nanoparticles. The selective response was witnessed by the 1:1 Ag:Pt-ZnO sample at a temperature of 175 °C toward ethanol gas with good stability and reproducibility. Furthermore, the enhancement in gas sensing performance was investigated and found that the optimal amount of Ag and Pt can provide a synergistic effect to zinc oxide for the improvement of highly selective real-time detection of ethanol gas.