Flower-like In2O3/ZnO heterostructure with accelerated multi-orientation electron transport mechanism for superior triethylamine detection

Flower-like In2O3/ZnO heterostructures consisting of the assembled needle-like nanorods derived from In2O3 precursor/ZIF-8 have been prepared by a two-step approach. Flower-like In2O3/ZnO structures can be achieved by adjusting the nucleation competition and crystal surface matching of In2O3 and ZnO, leading to the enhancement of gas adsorption on the surface, chemical reaction kinetics, and the electron transport efficiency. In/Zn-2 sensors exhibit excellent gas-sensing response value of 188.01 to 100 ppm triethylamine at 120 °C as well as good gas selectivity, long-term stability, and linear relationship compared with pure In2O3, mainly attributed to the accelerated multi-orientation electron transport mechanism within flower-like In2O3/ZnO heterostructures. In addition, In/Zn-2 samples can be utilized to detect the practical triethylamine gas released during the storage of marine organism (fishes).