1. Synthesis of Bitter gourd-shaped Cu-doped ZnO nanostructures and their investigation for the detection of NO2 gas at low concentrations.
- Author
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Umar, Ahmad, Ibrahim, Ahmed A., Begi, Amensisa Negasa, Alhamami, Mohsen A.M., Almehbad, Noura, Hussain, Shahid, and Akbar, Sheikh
- Subjects
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ZINC oxide , *SCANNING electron microscopes , *GAS detectors , *NANOSTRUCTURES , *MOMORDICA charantia , *NITROGEN dioxide - Abstract
Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) exposure can have several adverse health impacts on people, especially the respiratory system. Low selectivity, a lack of long-term stability, and structural and morphological optimization are some challenges associated with using ZnO for NO 2 gas sensing. Therefore, we intended copper (Cu) doping in ZnO to alter its shape and gas-sensing characteristics. This study explores the synthesis, properties, and gas-sensing capabilities of bitter gourd-shaped Cu-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures for the detection of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2). A facile hydrothermal synthesis method was employed to synthesize bitter gourd-shaped Cu-doped ZnO nanostructures and comprehensively characterized by several techniques. Comprehensive characterizations of our produced Cu-doped ZnO nanomaterial demonstrated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and different energy spectrum. The material was annealed at 400 °C in a controlled dry air environment to improve its suitability for gas sensor applications. A series of temperature-ranging experiments were conducted to get gas-sensing readings from 25 °C to 300 °C. The resulting sensor, founded upon the distinctive morphology of Cu-doped ZnO structures reminiscent of the intricate shape of bitter gourd, unveiled good selectivity with a pronounced affinity for detecting NO 2 gas. Notably, the zenith of its performance was attained at an operating temperature of 200 °C, where its selectivity and sensitivity were most pronounced. Even at a low concentration of 1 ppm, the sensors displayed a maximum response of 3.7, highlighting their high sensitivity. The sensors demonstrated excellent reproducibility, selectivity, and a low detection limit. These findings position bitter gourd-shaped Cu-doped ZnO nanostructures as promising candidates for NO 2 sensing applications across diverse environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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