Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• Eu/Ce co-doping of MOF-derived ZnO significantly enhances n-butanol sensing performance under UV activation at room temperature. • The optimized 0.03 wt% Eu and 0.04 wt% Ce co-doped ZnO sensor exhibits a response of 611 to 100 ppm n-butanol, 15.28 times higher than pristine MOF-ZnO. • The sensor shows rapid response/recovery times (15 s/28 s) and excellent selectivity, making it suitable for practical VOC detection. • The enhanced sensing performance is attributed to increased specific surface area and enriched oxygen vacancies from Eu/Ce doping.
Abstract
Prolonged exposure to n-butanol, a common hazardous volatile organic compound (VOC) in the environment, can lead to a broad range of adverse health effects. Therefore, detecting n-butanol safely and efficiently at low concentrations becomes critical for both environmental monitoring and human health. In this study, a novel Eu/Ce-codoped MOF-ZnO gas sensor was developed for the sensitive detection of n-butanol gas under ultraviolet activation at ambient temperature. A series of Eu/Ce-ZnO nanomaterials were synthesized via a simple co-precipitation route, by carefully designing the varied mass ratios of Eu and Ce incorporated into pristine ZnO derived from MOF precursors. The gas testing results revealed that introducing an appropriate amount of Eu and Ce would enlarge the specific surface area and enrich the oxygen vacancy content compared to pristine MOF-ZnO. Upon UV irradiation, the 0.03 wt% Eu 0.04 wt% Ce-ZnO sensor achieved a superior response of 611 for 100 ppm n-butanol at room temperature, 15.28 times higher than that of pristine MOF-ZnO (40). Furthermore, the sensor presented rapid response/recovery times (15 s/28 s) and excellent selectivity. The above contributions pave the way for the promising development of highly sensitive, ultraviolet-enhanced gas sensors for ambient temperature detection of VOCs.
1. Introduction
As human society progresses, the demand for improved air quality continues to grow. However, rapid industrial expansion has exacerbated air pollution, making it a pressing global concern. Ethanol, methanol, acetone, and n-butanol are examples of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). One of the primary contributors to industrial pollution is n-butanol. Prolonged exposure to these gases can lead to significant skin, respiratory, and ocular irritation and corrosion. In severe cases, prolonged exposure may lead to fatal toxicity or failure of vital organs and systems, such as the kidneys, liver, and central nervous system (CNS). Even after brief exposure, high levels of n-butanol can cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Therefore, developing highly sensitive and selective chemiresistive gas sensors for n-butanol detection is of paramount importance for environmental monitoring and human health protection.
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Yinzhong Liu, Xuechun Yang, Yun Guo, Lingchao Wang, Xiaofan Li, Hui Guo, Yiyu Qiao, Xiaotao Zhu, Lingli Cheng, Zheng Jiao (2025). Harnessing Eu/Ce-codoped ZnO nanomaterial derived from MOF precursor for high-performance n-butanol sensing under UV activation at ambient temperature. SinoTechIntel Verified Research. https://doi.org/10.1088/1674-4926/25070023
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main achievement of this study?
The study developed a novel Eu/Ce-codoped MOF-ZnO gas sensor that achieves high-performance n-butanol sensing under UV activation at ambient temperature, with a response of 611 to 100 ppm n-butanol, which is 15.28 times higher than pristine MOF-ZnO.
How does Eu/Ce co-doping improve the sensing performance?
Eu/Ce co-doping enlarges the specific surface area and enriches oxygen vacancy content in the ZnO nanomaterial, which enhances gas adsorption and reaction kinetics, leading to improved sensitivity and selectivity.
What are the response and recovery times of the optimized sensor?
The optimized 0.03 wt% Eu and 0.04 wt% Ce co-doped ZnO sensor exhibits rapid response and recovery times of 15 seconds and 28 seconds, respectively.
Why is UV activation used in this sensor?
UV activation enables the sensor to operate at ambient temperature, reducing power consumption and improving safety, while also enhancing the sensing performance by generating photo-generated charge carriers that facilitate gas reactions.
What is the significance of this work for environmental monitoring?
This work provides a promising approach for developing highly sensitive, ultraviolet-enhanced gas sensors that can detect n-butanol and other VOCs at room temperature, which is crucial for real-time environmental monitoring and human health protection.
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