Preparation and gas-sensing property of ZnO nanorod-bundle thin films

Abstract ZnO nanorod-bundle thin films have been synthesized by a simple self-assembly method with the aid of F127 (EO106–PO70–EO106) triblock copolymer. Their morphologies and crystal structures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). SEM results showed that films were composed of a lot of bundles, which comprised nanorods with the diameter of about 10 nm. The possible formation mechanism of ZnO nanorod-bundle structures is proposed. Gas-sensing property of thin films, to alcohol, was also detected. It was also found that the sensitivity, to 100 ppm alcohol, of ZnO nanorod-bundle thin films was higher than that of ZnO nanoparticle thin films. The results showed that the triblock copolymer, served as the surfactants, could effectively control the morphologies and the aspect ratio of nano-ZnO, and then improve its gas-sensing property.