ZnO nanorod gas sensor for ethanol detection

ZnO nanorods were fabricated by a simple low-temperature hydrothermal process in high yield (about 85%), starting with Zn(OH)42− aqueous solution in the presence of CTAB, the CTAB serving as a structure director, and no calcination process was needed. The morphology and crystal structure of the prepared ZnO nanorods were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Transmission electron microscope (TEM). The ZnO nanorods were then used to construct a gas sensor for ethanol detection at different operating temperature. The as-prepared ZnO nanorod gas sensor exhibited a high, reversible and fast response to ethanol, indicating its potential application as a gas sensor to detect ethanol.