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

Abstract Porous ternary Zn 2 SnO 4 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 Zn 2 SnO 4 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 °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−(hν)], which contributed to the enhanced resistance modulation and low-temperature ethanol response of Zn 2 SnO 4 nanofibers. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Porous ternary Zn 2 SnO 4 nanofibers were fabricated by an electrospinning technique. • UV-activated low-temperature ethanol response of Zn 2 SnO 4 nanofibers was revealed. • Zn 2 SnO 4 sensor showed good ethanol selectivity and stability under UV irradiation. • The adsorbed oxygen species upon UV irradiation at 130 °C was identified to be O−. • The UV-activated ethanol sensing mechanism was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]