UV-activated porous Zn2SnO4 nanofibers for selective ethanol sensing at low temperatures

Porous ternary Zn2SnO4 nanofibers with a high surface-to-volume ratio were fabricated through an electrospinning technique. UV-activated ethanol sensing responses at low temperatures were revealed using these porous Zn2SnO4 nanofibers as a sensing active layer. The ethanol response was up to 32.5, and the calculated detection limit was as low as 1.6 ppm at a low temperature of 130 degrees C. The sensor exhibited good ethanol selectivity and stability under UV irradiation. The photoinduced electrons reacted with the absorbed oxygen molecules to form active O- species [O-(hv)], which contributed to the enhanced resistance modulation and low-temperature ethanol response of Zn2SnO4 nanofibers. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.