Ag nanoparticles decorated ZnSnO3 hollow cubes for enhanced formaldehyde sensing performance at low temperature

High power consumption is closely related to the high optimum operating temperature. Therefore, the exploration of sensors with excellent sensing performance at low temperature is essential in environment protection and daily life. Herein, the ZnSnO3 hollow cubes have been modified successfully by Ag nanoparticles (NPs) via a simple solution-based chemical method. A series of chemical states characterization and surface morphology analysis indicate that the Ag NPs are evenly dispersed on the surface of ZnSnO3 hollow cubes to generate the Schottky barrier-type junctions and enhance the sensing performance of sample. The gas-sensing results suggest that the sensor towards 50 ppm formaldehyde displays the excellent response value (26.7) at 100 °C, as well as fast response/recovery time (12/18 s), remarkable reproducibility and outstanding stability. Combined with ZnSnO3 hollow cubes structure and catalytic activity of Ag NPs loaded, the sensing mechanism was proposed. This work confirms that Ag NPs modification is an efficient strategy to improve the sensing propertied of ZnSnO3 based gas sensors.