CuO Nanocube Gas Sensor for Ethanol Detection

We fabricated and characterized a reproducible gas sensor based on monodisperse CuO nanocubes. The shape and structure of the nanocubes were controlled through a modified polyol process. The nanocubes were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the gas sensors were prepared through a screen-printing process applied to interdigitated electrodes (IDEs). The nanocubes were then sintered at 600 °C for 2 h in air. The C₂H₅OH gas-sensing characteristics of the CuO nanocubes were examined at operating temperatures of 300, and 350 °C respectively, and showed good sensitivity (S, 1.51 with 300 ppm at 300 °C), logarithmic properties in the range of 5–300 ppm C₂H₅OH gas concentration, and excellent reproducibility (coefficient of variation 0.03 with 80 ppm at 300 °C).