Laser irradiation-induced Au-ZnO nanospheres with enhanced sensitivity and stability in ethanol sensing

摘要: Incorporating noble metal nanoparticles on the surface or inner side of semiconductors to form a hybrid nanostructure is an effective route to improve the gas sensing performance of these semiconductors. In this study, we present novel Au-decorated ZnO nanospheres (Au-ZnO NSs) obtained by laser irradiation of liquids. Structural characterization indicated that the Au-ZnO NSs consisted of single crystalline ZnO NSs with few Au nanoparticles decorated on their surfaces and abundant encapsulated Au nanoparticles with relatively small sizes. Laser irradiation-induced heating–melting–evaporating processes are responsible for the formation of unique Au-ZnO NSs. Gas sensing properties of the Au-ZnO NSs, as gas sensing materials, were investigated and compared with those of pure ZnO NSs. The former showed lower working temperature, higher sensitivity, better selectivity, and good reproducibility. The response values of Au-ZnO NSs and pure ZnO NSs sensors to ethanol of 100 ppm were 252 and 75 at working temperature of 320 °C and 360 °C, respectively. The significant enhancements in gas sensing performance should be attributed to the electronic sensitization induced by the depleted layers between encapsulated Au nanoparticles and ZnO and chemical sensitization originating from the catalytic effects of Au nanoparticles decorated on the surfaces that dissociated molecular oxygen.