Nanostructured Znco₂o₄Thick Film As An Ethanol Sensor

Semiconductive nanometer-size material ZnCo₂O₄ was synthesized by a solution combustion reaction of inorganic reagents of Zn(NO₃)₃. 6H₂O, Co(NO₃)₃.6H₂O and glycine as a fuel. The process was a convenient, environment friendly, inexpensive and efficient preparation method for the ZnCo₂O₄ nanomaterial. The synthesized materials were characterized by TG/DTA, XRD, EDX, SEM, and TEM. Conductance responses of the nanocrystalline ZnCo₂O₄ thick film were measured by exposing the film to reducing gases like Acetone, Ethanol and CO₂. It was found that the sensors exhibited various sensing responses to these gases at different operating temperature. Furthermore, the sensor exhibited a fast response and a good recovery. The results demonstrated that ZnCo₂O₄ can be used as a new type of gas-sensing material which has a high sensitivity and good selectivity to Ethanol 200 ppm.