Heterostructures of polyaniline and Ce–ZnO nanomaterial coated flexible PET thin films for LPG gas sensing at standard environment

The n-type Ce doped ZnO (Ce–ZnO) and p-type polyaniline (PANI) heterojunction were successfully synthesized via simple chemical solution method for sensing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at standard environment. The morphology and structures of as-prepared Ce–ZnO & PANI nanoparticles were analyzed by numerous kinds of techniques. Ce–ZnO & PANI nanoparticles were mixed with n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) which is coated over the gold coated PET electrode by doctor blade method and dried overnight at 60 °C to form p-n junction. The as-formed p-n junction is to be driven with the help of 1.5 V potential at ambient temperature. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results of Ce–ZnO nanoparticles confirmed the existence of Ce4+ and the improved amount of both chemisorbed oxygen and oxygen vacancy after the formation of Ce–ZnO heterojunction. The maximum response of 80% was realized for hollow Ce–ZnO/PANI sensor at 100 ppm. The proposed material is a novel candidate to detect the LPG even at low (30) ppm and this study reveals the possibility of developing a potentially inexpensive hollow Ce–ZnO/PANI sensor for sensing LPG efficiently. [Display omitted] •Synthesis of Ce–ZnO nanoparticles and PANI by simple hydrothermal method.•The fabricated Ce–ZnO/polyaniline was high sensitive at low ppm of LPG.•The maximum response was observed to be 80% at 100 ppm for porous Ce–ZnO/polyaniline.•Applicable for real time LPG sensing at low ppm.