Paracetamol-Assisted Self-Assembled ZnO Porous Microstructures for Enhanced CO2 Detection

• Published in: Journal of electronic materials Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 2057 - 2065
• Main Authors: Hernandez, A. G., Olvera, M., Pérez-Cortes, Obed, Gómez-Pozos, Heberto, Karthik, T. V. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.04.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analgesics; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide concentration; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical sensors; Chemistry and Materials Science; Electronics and Microelectronics; Flakes; Instrumentation; Materials Science; Optical and Electronic Materials; Original Research Article; Oxygen atoms; Porosity; Raman spectra; Response time; Self-assembly; Sodium hydroxide; Solid State Physics; Synthesis; Zinc oxide; Zinc oxides; carbon dioxide; ZnO; sensors; paracetamol
• ISSN: 0361-5235; 1543-186X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11664-020-08732-4

Paracetamol-assisted zinc oxide (ZnO) highly porous micro-flakes were synthesized by a rapid two-step synthesis: precipitation (with sodium hydroxide) and calcination (at 250°C for 1 h). Addition of paracetamol during the synthesis not only inhibited the growth of ZnO grains but also originated self-assembly of the micro-flakes resulting in highly porous flower like structures. Increase in paracetamol concentration also increased porosity on ZnO microstructures due to the self-assembly of thinner flakes without any structural changes. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows the preferential orientation of powders in the (101) direction of hexagonal structure. Raman spectra is dominated by E 2 (high) optical mode due to vibration of oxygen atoms. Samples were tested for gas detection at 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1000 (parts per million) PPM concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). ZnO porous microstructures were obtained with a high concentration of paracetamol, enhancing the carbon dioxide sensing response from 20% to 90% with a response time of 60 s. These simple, low-cost and highly porous self-assembled ZnO structures with enhanced CO 2 detection will be of interest for several researchers in the chemical sensor fabrication field. Graphic Abstract