MOF-derived Co3O4/ZnSnO3 hollow composite gas sensor with superior response and selectivity toward ethanol

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Ethanol is widely used in the chemical and food industries, and its accurate and efficient detection is essential for safety and process control. In this study, ZnSnO₃ hollow microspheres decorated with MOF-derived Co₃O₄ hollow polyhedrons were synthesized via co-precipitation and calcination method. The structure, morphology, surface chemistry, and ethanol-sensing properties of the Co₃O₄/ZnSnO₃ composites were systematically investigated. Compared with pure ZnSnO₃, the composites exhibited significantly increased specific surface area and oxygen vacancy concentration, leading to superior gas-sensing performance. The optimized CZSO-2 composite (15 % Co3O4) sensor achieved a high response of 160.6 toward 100 ppm ethanol at 240°C, with rapid response/recovery times of 6/56 s and a low detection limit of 0.21 ppm. Furthermore, the composites demonstrated enhanced selectivity, repeatability, and long-term stability. Mechanistic analysis revealed that the synergistic effects of abundant oxygen vacancies, the large specific area arising from the hollow structure, and the formation of p-n heterojunction between Co₃O₄ and ZnSnO₃ were responsible for the improved performance. Therefore, the MOF-derived Co₃O₄/ZnSnO₃ hollow composites present a promising sensing material for high-performance ethanol detection.

Original languageEnglish
Article number139306
JournalSensors and Actuators B: Chemical
Volume450
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2026

Keywords

  • CoO/ZnSnO
  • Ethanol
  • Gas sensor
  • Metal-organic frameworks
  • P-n heterojunction

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'MOF-derived Co3O4/ZnSnO3 hollow composite gas sensor with superior response and selectivity toward ethanol'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this