NiO Grained-Flowers and Nanoparticles for Ethanol Sensing.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Chemical Sensing

Background:

• Nickel oxide (NiO) is a promising semiconductor material for gas sensing applications.
• Developing efficient and selective gas sensors is crucial for environmental monitoring and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and compare the ethanol gas-sensing properties of grained-flower and nanoparticle NiO morphologies.
• To investigate the influence of morphology on sensor performance, stability, and selectivity.

Main Methods:

• Surfactant-free hydrothermal synthesis was employed to create both NiO morphologies.
• Gas sensing performance was evaluated by measuring gas response against temperature and ethanol concentration.
• Sensor stability and selectivity were assessed over time and against different gases.

Main Results:

• Both NiO morphologies exhibited excellent and reproducible gas-sensing performance.
• Grained-flower NiO demonstrated superior ethanol-sensing capabilities compared to nanoparticle NiO.
• Both sensor types showed high stability over a three-week period, with grained-flower NiO also displaying good selectivity.

Conclusions:

• The grained-flower NiO morphology offers enhanced ethanol gas-sensing performance, likely due to optimized electron and adsorbate pathways.
• The straightforward synthesis and superior performance highlight the potential of grained-flower NiO for practical gas sensing devices.
• Further research can explore optimizing this morphology for broader gas detection applications.