Gas Sensor for Efficient Acetone Detection and Application Based on Au-Modified ZnO Porous Nanofoam

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Toxic acetone gas poses environmental and health risks.
• Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors are established for toxic gas detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an efficient acetone gas sensor using Au-modified ZnO porous nanofoam (Au/ZnO).
• To enhance the gas-sensitive performance of ZnO for acetone detection through gold nanoparticle modification.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Au/ZnO porous nanofoam via polyvinylpyrrolidone-blowing and calcination.
• Structural and morphological characterization using XRD, XPS, SEM, and TEM.
• Gas sensitivity testing in a static system to evaluate acetone detection performance.

Main Results:

• Optimized Au loading ratio (3.0%) significantly enhanced ZnO's acetone gas sensitivity.
• The Au/ZnO-3.0% sensor achieved a response of 20.02 to 100 ppm acetone at 275 °C.
• A portable electronic device integrating the Au/ZnO-3.0% sensor was developed for real-time detection and alarming.

Conclusions:

• Adjusting gold nanoparticle loading effectively improves porous ZnO's acetone gas-sensing capabilities.
• The developed Au/ZnO sensor and integrated device offer a promising solution for detecting and mitigating acetone emissions.