Abstract

In this paper, in pursuit of developing high-performance graphene-based gas sensors, a novel NO₂ gas sensor has been successfully fabricated using ZnO nanoparticles and Au nanoparticles modified reduced graphene oxide (ZnO-rGO-Au) ternary hybrids as sensing materials. The ZnO-rGO-Au hybrids were prepared by deposition of Au nanoparticles on the surface of ZnO-rGO hybrids by the wet chemical method. The combined characterizations of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, as well as N₂ sorption isotherm indicate the successful preparation of ZnO-rGO-Au hybrids. Most importantly, ZnO-rGO-Au hybrids exhibit good sensing performances for detection of NO₂ at relatively low operating temperature (80 °C), such as high response, fast response and recovery rate, and good selectivity. Furthermore, the excellent sensing performances of sensor based on ZnO-rGO-Au hybrids also render it suitable for development of high performance gas sensors.