Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
07:13
Nanostructured Ag-zeolite Composites as Luminescence-based Humidity Sensors
Published on: November 15, 2016
Enhanced Ethanol Sensing Performance and Humidity Tolerance of Ce/ZnO-Incorporated In2O3 Nanocubes
Yijun Yang1,2, Dong Geon Jung1, Daewoong Jung3,4
1Mobility Robot System R&D Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), Daegu 42994, Republic of Korea.
Micromachines
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Cerium and zinc oxide-incorporated indium oxide nanocube composites show enhanced ethanol gas sensing. This novel material offers improved sensitivity, a low detection limit, and stability for reliable ethanol detection.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Indium oxide (In2O3) is a promising semiconductor material for gas sensing applications.
- Improving the sensitivity, selectivity, and stability of In2O3-based sensors is crucial for practical applications.
- Nanostructured materials offer unique properties for enhanced gas sensing performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and evaluate cerium and zinc oxide-incorporated indium oxide (Ce/ZnO-In2O3) nanocube composites for advanced ethanol gas sensing.
- To investigate the effect of Ce and ZnO incorporation on the sensing properties of In2O3.
- To understand the mechanisms behind the enhanced sensing performance.
Main Methods:
- Hydrothermal synthesis of Ce/ZnO-In2O3 nanocube composites.
- Fabrication and testing of gas sensors based on the synthesized materials.
- Characterization of material properties using techniques like SEM, TEM, and XPS.
- Evaluation of sensing performance towards ethanol, including response, detection limit, selectivity, and stability.
- Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for gas discrimination.
Main Results:
- Ce/ZnO-In2O3 sensor exhibited an 8.7-fold improvement in response to 100 ppm ethanol at 300 °C compared to pristine In2O3.
- Achieved a low detection limit of 0.8 ppm for ethanol.
- Demonstrated stable, reversible sensing behavior, excellent repeatability over 100 cycles, and long-term operational stability.
- Showed improved humidity tolerance, retaining 77% of the initial response at 80% relative humidity.
- PCA confirmed improved discrimination of ethanol against interfering gases.
Conclusions:
- The synergistic effects of Ce and ZnO incorporation significantly enhance the ethanol sensing performance of In2O3.
- Heterojunction formation between ZnO and In2O3, along with Ce-induced lattice distortion, are key factors for improved performance.
- Ce/ZnO-In2O3 nanocube composites show great potential for reliable ethanol detection in environmental and industrial applications.
