Significant butanol gas sensor based on unique Bi2MoO6 porous microspheres and ZnO nanosheets composite nanomaterials

The heterostructure of metal oxide and other materials is one of the important ways for the development of electronic devices. The Bi2MoO6 (BMO)/ZnO composites were synthesized by secondary hydrothermal method. The morphology and crystal structure of the compound were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, EDS mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen physical adsorption and X-ray diffraction. The synthesis technology and gas sensitivity of BMO and BMO/ZnO composites were discussed. The results showed that BMO and BMO/ZnO had better butanol gas sensitivity, faster response rate, lower working temperature, and good stability. Compared with methanol, benzene, methyl alcohol, ethanol, and acetone, BMO/ZnO sensor showed good selectivity to butanol at 270 ℃. The response time and recovery time for 100 ppm butanol were about 6 s and 33 s, respectively, the response value up to 128. The n-n type BMO/ZnO composites with unique microstructure has abundant diffusion channels, and the research work provides a valuable reference for the low-cost preparation of high-performance butanol sensors. The energy band, potential barrier and charge transfer of BMO/ZnO composites are discussed, and the optimization of their gas sensitivity is analyzed in detail. •The three-dimensional porous nanospheres Bi2MoO6 were successfully synthesized.•The Bi2MoO6/ZnO composite were synthesized by hydrothermal method.•The Bi2MoO6/ZnO composite were employed as gas sensor for the detection of butanol gas.