Zinc stannate oxide perovskite nanomaterial based electrochemical detection of ammonia

Abstract

Metal oxide perovskites are promising for sensing harmful chemicals at room temperature with high accuracy, sensitivity, selectivity, and ultra-low detection limit. There is a need for material that can have high sensitivity toward hazardous chemicals like ammonia. In this paper, a one-step hydrothermal process has been successfully used for the synthesis of ZnSnO3 nanopowder. With the presence of ample oxygen vacancies and a large surface area, ZnSnO3 nanopowder facilitates excellent electrochemical sensing properties. Here, the electrochemical ammonia sensing was investigated in potentiometric and amperometric modes. At room temperature, ammonia was detected within a linear concentration range from 10 nM to 60 nM, utilizing a low potential of 20 mV. The fabricated ammonia sensor based on ZnSnO3 nanopowder can detect at an ultra-low detection limit of 0.851 pM with a high sensitivity value of 4.548 mAcm−2nM−1. The reproducibility, repeatability, and stability of the ammonia sensor are also reported.