Synthesis of porous spherical ZnO nanomaterials and the selective detection of NO at room temperature

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Chemical, 2023-03, Vol.378, p.133155, Article 133155
• Main Authors: Liu, Xi, Li, Qiaoyan, Cui, Yahan, Lin, Jiasheng, Ding, Lan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: NO sensing; Oxalic acid; Porous spherical ZnO; Room temperature
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2022.133155

The microstructure of ZnO nanomaterials determines their sensing performance. Here, porous spherical ZnO nanomaterials were synthesized by hydrothermal combined with high temperature calcination using zinc acetate, urea, sodium citrate, and oxalic acid as raw materials. The ZnO nanomaterials exhibit excellent response and fast response/recovery behavior towards NO at room temperature. The response to 0.5 ppm NO reached 3.08, and the response and recovery times were less than 35 s in the concentration range of 0.5 ∼ 8.0 ppm. The introduction of oxalic acid improved crystallinity, increased the oxygen vacancy content and selective response to NO at room temperature. The results show that ZnO can be used as an ideal candidate material for detecting NO at room temperature. •Porous spherical ZnO were synthesized by hydrothermal combined calcination method.•The porous structure of ZnO facilitates the diffusion and adsorption of gases.•Oxalic acid improved the selective response of ZnO to NO at room temperature.•CO2 generated during roasting is conducive to the diffusion and adsorption of NO.