Enhanced ethanol sensing performance of Cu-doped ZnO nanorods

• Published in: Materials science in semiconductor processing 2021-12, Vol.136, p.106149, Article 106149
• Main Authors: Alev, Onur, Ergün, İmren, Özdemir, Okan, Arslan, Leyla Çolakerol, Büyükköse, Serkan, Öztürk, Zafer Ziya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Doping; Ethanol; Gas sensor; Hydrothermal; Nanorods; ZnO
• ISSN: 1369-8001; 1873-4081
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mssp.2021.106149

Cu-doped ZnO (Zn1−xCuxO, x=0.00,0.01,0.02,0.03 and 0.04) nanorods (NRs) were grown on glass substrates by a seed-mediated hydrothermal method for gas sensing applications. The morphological and structural characterizations were performed by x-ray diffraction method (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy equipped with electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Fabricated sensors were tested against H2, NO2, ethanol, acetone, xylene and toluene at different operation temperatures. It was found that Cu doping enhanced the sensor response of ZnO NRs especially towards ethanol. The highest sensor response against the ethanol were obtained with 2% and 3% Cu-doped ZnO NRs. Moreover, Cu-doping allowed us to operate ZnO NRs sensors at lower temperatures. Although pristine ZnO NRs did not show any sensor response at 100 °C, 2% Cu-doped sensors exhibited selective sensor behavior towards ethanol among the other tested gases. •Cu-doped ZnO nanorods (NRs) were deposited on glass substrates by seed-mediated hydrothermal method.•More oxygen vacancies exist on the surface of the 3% Cu-doped ZnO NRs sensor.•Cu doping advances sensor response of ZnO NRs against ethanol.•The sensing mechanism was discussed with the help of XPS results and electrical measurements.