Rapid detection of ozone in the parts per billion range using a novel Ni–Al layered double hydroxide

•The NiAl–LDH sensor was fabricated for ppb level ozone gas sensing.•It shows fast response and recovery times as 4s and 4s, respectively.•This sensor exhibits good selectivity, reproducibility and short-term stability. A novel ozone sensor based on Ni–Al layered double hydroxide (NiAl–LDH) that operates at room temperature (25°C) was developed. The NiAl–LDH was successfully synthesized using a hydrothermal method and characterized using X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Selective detection of ozone was readily achieved with the NiAl–LDH sensor even in the presence of other gases such as H2, NO2, and C2H5OH. The NiAl–LDH sensor exhibited a sensor response of 1.22–15ppb ozone, and the response and recovery times of the sensor were both measured as 4s. In addition, the NiAl–LDH sensor revealed good reproducibility and reversibility, and the response displayed no obvious changes after 19days of testing. Furthermore, the sensor presented excellent selectivity and stability for ozone, and the response value of the NiAl–LDH sensor to 700ppb ozone was 1.84. Moreover, a possible ozone sensing mechanism of the NiAl–LDH sensor is presented. The NiAl–LDH sensor is a promising candidate for the detection of ozone in parts per billion levels at room temperature (25°C).