Facile synthesis of Pd@ZnO core@shell nanoparticles for selective ethanol detection

Abstract In this work, we reported a high-performance ethanol gas sensor based on novel Pd@ZnO core@shell nanoparticles (CSNPs). The Pd@ZnO CSNPs were synthesized by chemical method and characterized by XRD, TEM and EDS techniques. Gas sensing results demonstrated that Pd@ZnO CSNPs show high sensitivity and remarkable selectivity towards ethanol at 250°C. The response value of Pd@ZnO CSNPs is 152, which is almost six times higher than the response value (27) of ZnO NPs at 250°C. The mechanism of enhancement in sensing properties can be ascribed to the chemical and electronic sensitization effect of Pd NPs and also due to the unique core@shell structure. These characteristics may shed light on the development of a selective ethanol sensor based on Pd@ZnO CSNPs.