Thin films of ZnO and ZnO/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are prepared and used as CO₂ gas sensors. The spray pyrolysis method was used to prepare both ZnO and ZnO/CNTs films, with CNTs first prepared using the chemical vapor deposition method (CVD). The chemical structure and optical analyses for all the prepared nanomaterials were performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformer infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV/Vis spectrophotometer devices, respectively. According to the XRD analysis, the crystal sizes of ZnO and ZnO/CNTs were approximately 50.4 and 65.2 nm, respectively. CNTs have average inner and outer diameters of about 3 and 13 nm respectively, according to the transmitted electron microscope (TEM), and a wall thickness of about 5 nm. The detection of CO₂ is accomplished by passing varying rates of the gas from 30 to 150 sccm over the prepared thin-film electrodes. At 150 sccm, the sensitivities of ZnO and ZnO/CNTs sensors are 6.8% and 22.4%, respectively. The ZnO/CNTs sensor has a very stable sensitivity to CO₂ gas for 21 days. Moreover, this sensor has a high selectivity to CO₂ in comparison with other gases, in which the ZnO/CNTs sensor has a higher sensitivity to CO₂ compared to H₂ and C₂H₂.

Currently, hydrogen generation via photocatalytic water splitting using semiconductors is regarded as a simple environmental solution to energy challenges. This paper discusses the effects of the doping of noble metals, Ir (3.0 at.%) and Ni (1.5–4.5 at.%), on the structure, morphology, optical properties, and photoelectrochemical performance of sol-gel-produced SnO₂ thin films. The incorporation of Ir and Ni influences the position of the peaks and the lattice characteristics of the tetragonal polycrystalline SnO₂ films. The films have a homogeneous, compact, and crack-free nanoparticulate morphology. As the doping level is increased, the grain size shrinks, and the films have a high proclivity for forming Sn–OH bonds. The optical bandgap of the un-doped film is 3.5 eV, which fluctuates depending on the doping elements and their ratios to 2.7 eV for the 3.0% Ni-doped SnO₂:Ir Photoelectrochemical (PEC) electrode. This electrode produces the highest photocurrent density (J_ph = 46.38 mA/cm²) and PEC hydrogen production rate (52.22 mmol h⁻¹cm⁻² at −1V), with an Incident-Photon-to-Current Efficiency (IPCE% )of 17.43% at 307 nm. The applied bias photon-to-current efficiency (ABPE) of this electrode is 1.038% at −0.839 V, with an offset of 0.391% at 0 V and 307 nm. These are the highest reported values for SnO₂-based PEC catalysts. The electrolyte type influences the J_ph values of photoelectrodes in the order J_ph(HCl) > J_ph(NaOH) > J_ph(Na₂SO₄). After 12 runs of reusability at −1 V, the optimized photoelectrode shows high stability and retains about 94.95% of its initial PEC performance, with a corrosion rate of 5.46 nm/year. This research provides a novel doping technique for the development of a highly active SnO₂-based photoelectrocatalyst for solar light-driven hydrogen fuel generation.

For a safe environment, harmful-gas sensors of low cost and high performance are essential. For CO₂ gas sensing applications, Ba-doped CuO thin films with 4 mol% and 6 mol% Ba were produced on glass substrates using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction approach. Utilizing various techniques, crystallographic structures, nanomorphologies, and elemental compositions were examined to assess the impact of doping on the characteristics of the films. According to the structural and morphological analyses, the nanocrystalline films consisted of irregularly shaped nanoparticles, which assembled to form a rough surface with unequal grain sizes. Because of its nanoporous nature, the CuO:6% Ba thin film exhibited the most substantial nanomorphological change and the highest gas sensing capability. At varied CO₂ gas flow rates, the maximum sensor response (9.4%) and R_air/R_CO2 ratio (1.12) at room temperature (RT = 30 °C) were observed at 100 SCCM. By optimizing the sensor’s operating temperature, the sensor response value reached 82.2% at 150 °C, which is approximately eight times the value at RT. Selectivity, reusability, repeatability, detection limit, and quantification limit were all tested. It shows excellent response and recovery times of 5.6 and 5.44 s. In comparison to prior literature, the improved sensor is suited for use in industrial applications. Graphical abstract

Gas sensing is of significant importance in a wide range of disciplines, including industrial safety and environmental monitoring. In this work, a low-cost SILAR (Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction) technique was employed to fabricate pure CuO, Zn-doped CuO, and Na-doped CuO nanotextured films to efficiently detect CO₂ gas. The structures, morphologies, chemical composition, and optical properties of all films are characterized using different tools. All films exhibit a crystalline monoclinic phase (tenorite) structure. The average crystallite size of pure CuO was 83.5 nm, whereas the values for CuO/Zn and CuO/Na were 73.15 nm and 63.08 nm, respectively. Subsequently, the gas-sensing capabilities of these films were evaluated for the detection of CO₂ in terms of sensor response, selectivity, recovery time, response time, and limits of detection and quantification. The CuO/Na film offered the most pronounced sensitivity towards CO₂ gas, as evidenced by a sensor response of 12.8% at room temperature and a low limit of detection (LoD) of 2.36 SCCM. The response of this sensor increased to 64.5% as the operating temperature increased to 150 °C. This study thus revealed a brand-new CuO/Na nanostructured film as a highly effective and economically viable sensor for the detection of CO₂.