Characterization of ZnO Nanobelt-Based Gas Sensor for ${\rm H}_{2}$, ${\rm NO}_{2}$, and Hydrocarbon Sensing

A conductometric H
₂
, NO
₂
, and hydrocarbon gas sensor based on single-crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) nanobelts has been developed. The nanobelt sensitive layer was deposited using a radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputterer. The microcharacterization study reveals that the nanobelts have a single crystal hexagonal structure with average thickness and width of about 10 and 50nm, respectively. The sensor was exposed to H
₂
, NO
₂
and propene gases at operating temperatures between 150 degC and 450 degC. The study showed that optimum operating temperatures for the sensor are in the range of 300 degC-400degC for H
₂
, 300 degC-350 degC for NO
₂
, and 350 degC-420 degC for propene sensing