Yolk-shelled ZnCo2O4 microspheres: Surface properties and gas sensing application

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Vol. 257; pp. 906 - 915
• Main Authors: Joshi, Nirav, da Silva, Luís F., Jadhav, Harsharaj S., Shimizu, Flavio M., Suman, Pedro H., M’Peko, Jean-Claude, Orlandi, Marcelo Ornaghi, Seo, Jeong Gil, Mastelaro, Valmor R., Oliveira, Osvaldo N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-03-2018
• Subjects: Co-precipitation; Impedance spectroscopy; Ozone gas sensing; Yolk-shelled structures; Zn-Co glycolate; ZnCo2O4; Impedance spectroscopy; Ozone gas sensing; Zn-Co glycolate; Co-precipitation; ZnCo2O4; Yolk-shelled structures
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2017.11.041

•Yolk-shelled ZnCo2O4 structures have been synthesized by a one-step co-precipitation method.•FESEM images revealed that the morphology is based on a yolk-shelled shape.•The yolk-shelled ZnCo2O4 exhibits a good sensitivity towards sub-ppb (80-890 ppb) level of ozone.•The sensor worked within a wide range of ozone concentrations,being also selective to ozone compared to CO, NH3 and NO2.
The need to improve the sensitivity, selectivity and stability of ozone gas sensors capable of monitoring the environment to prevent hazard to humans has sparked research on binary metal oxides. Here we report on a novel ozone gas sensor made with ca. 0.5μm yolk-shelled ZnCo2O4 microstructures synthesized via an eco-friendly, co-precipitation method and subsequent annealing. With these ZnCo2O4 microspheres, ozone concentrations down to 80 parts per billion (ppb) could be detected with a.c. and d.c. electrical measurements. The sensor worked within a wide range of ozone concentrations, from 80 to 890ppb, being also selective to ozone compared to CO, NH3 and NO2. The high performance could be attributed to the large surface area to volume ratio inherent in yolk-shell structures. Indeed, ozone molecules adsorbed on the ZnCo2O4 surface create a layer of holes that affect the conductivity, as in a p-type semiconductor. Since this mechanism of detection is generic, ZnCo2O4 microspheres can be further used in other environment monitoring devices.