Construction of a low-temperature, highly sensitive H2S sensor based on surfaces and interfaces reaction triggered by Au-doped hierarchical structured composites

A low-temperature, highly sensitive H2S sensor based on Au-doped ZnO/Zn2SnO4 (AZZ) hierarchical structured composites was fabricated by using a screen printing craft. Compared with the pure ZnO, Zn2SnO4 and ZnO/Zn2SnO4 gas sensor, the AZZ-basedgas sensor exhibits superior H2S sensing performance. [Display omitted] •The AZZ-basedgas sensor exhibits superior H2S sensing performance.•The response of the AZZ-based sensor to H2S is improved from 2.1 to 15.92 at low temperature (150 °C).•The as-obtained sensor shows a commendable ultra-fast recovery time, with a recovery time of 2 s for 30 ppm H2S.•The as-prepared gas sensor has better selectivity to H2S gas, as well as good repeatability and stability.•The sensor is conducive to surfaces and interfaces reactions, gas diffusion and transmission. A low-temperature, highly sensitive H2S sensor based on Au-doped ZnO/Zn2SnO4 (AZZ) hierarchical structured composites was fabricated by using a screen printing craft. With the introduction of Au, the response of the AZZ-based sensor to H2S is improved from 2.1 to 15.92 at 150 °C for a [Au]/[Zn] molar ratio of 0.1%. Moreover, the as-prepared sensor has better selectivity to H2S. It is worth mentioning that the sensor shows a commendable ultra-fast recovery time (2 s). Importantly, the unique AZZ hierarchical structure is conducive to chemical adsorption, surfaces and interfaces reactions, gas diffusion and transmission, thereby enhancing the sensing performance.