Highly sensitive room temperature hydrogen sensor based on cactus-like ZnO@3D rGO aerogel

Cactus-like ZnO@three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide aerogels (3D rGA) were obtained via a hydrothermal method. The 3D rGA had an interconnected large-size network structure, and cactus-like ZnO nanoparticles were uniformly distributed on the 3D rGA. The gas sensors based on cactus-like ZnO@3D rGA showed a high response (81.07) and a fast response/recovery time (15/27 s) to 10,000 ppm hydrogen at room temperature (25 ℃), as well as an excellent stability and selectivity toward hydrogen. The improved hydrogen sensing performance of this 3D structure was mainly related to the high conductivity and porous structure of reduced graphene oxide. Besides, the p-n heterojunction formed between ZnO and reduced graphene oxide was also a significant factor for the performance improvement. The results indicated that the cactus-like ZnO@3D rGA material was promising for the detection of hydrogen at room temperature.