Enhanced H2S gas sensing performance of networked CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensor

Abstract

CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticles (CuO:ZnO=4:1 by vol.%) were synthesized via a facile solvothermal route. The CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensor showed significantly enhanced H2S gas sensing performance compared to the pristine CuO and pristine ZnO nanoparticle sensors. The pristine CuO, pristine ZnO and CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensors showed responses of approximately 335%, 161% and 1035%, respectively, to 2ppm of H2S at 225°C. The CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensor also showed more rapid response to H2S gas than the pristine CuO and ZnO nanoparticle sensors. Both the pristine CuO nanoparticle and CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensors showed selectivity for H2S gas over other gases. The underlying mechanism for the enhanced sensing performance of the CuO-ZnO composite nanoparticle sensor is discussed.