Zinc stannate microcubes with an integrated microheater for low-temperature NO sub(2) detection

Abstract

This paper reports a facile technique to construct an oxide nanostructured film on a low-power microheater sensor platform to detect NO sub(2) gas with high sensitivity and selectivity at a low temperature. Microcube-shaped zinc stannate (ZnSnO sub(3)) nanostructures prepared through a co-precipitation method were used to detect NO sub(2) down to 85 ppb at 110 degrees C with a fast response and recovery time. Specifically, a 192 percent response in the resistance change was measured for 5 ppm NO sub(2) gas, with a response time of 3.36 mins, excellent reproducibility, long-term stability, and high selectivity. The good gas-sensing performance of the ZnSnO sub(3) microcubes is due to their porous surface, which provides a large surface area and suitable absorption-desorption processes. The versatility of the ZnSnO sub(3) nanostructures may be further exploited with various sensing units on a single chip towards the development of arrays, as in electronic noses.