Optimized n-Butanol Sensing Performance of ZnCeO₂ and ZnCuCeO₂ Nanocomposites at Room Temperature

ZnCeO 2 and ZnCuCeO 2 nanocomposites (NCs) were successfully synthesized using a simplistic co-precipitation method. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the nanocomposites were thoroughly characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The XRD analysis confirmed the formation of nanocomposites without any secondary phases, revealing average particle sizes of 11.21 nm for ZnCeO 2 and 7.02 nm for ZnCuCeO 2 . The direct band gaps of the nanocomposites were determined to be 3.05 eV for ZnCeO 2 and 3.12 eV for ZnCuCeO 2 , with corresponding refractive indices of 2.19 and 2.14, respectively. Furthermore, the gas-sensing properties of the synthesized nanocomposites were systematically investigated, with a specific focus on their response to n-Butanol gas. Notably, the room-temperature n-Butanol sensing of ZnCuCeO 2 NC exhibited enhanced sensing performance, including a rapid response time of 13 s, a quick recovery time of 7 s, and a remarkable sensitivity of 458 for 20 ppm concentration of n-Butanol. These findings underscore the potential of ZnCuCeO 2 nanocomposites for practical sensor applications, particularly in the detection of n-Butanol gas, showcasing their promising characteristics for real-world sensing scenarios.