High performance flame-made ultraporous ZnO-based QCM sensor for acetaldehyde

Ultraporous ZnO films were deposited, by onestep flame spray pyrolysis, on quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) devices. Gas sensing properties of the fabricated devices have been explored in the detection of acetaldehyde in air. The response to this target gas, recorded at room temperature, is fully reversible and fast. The metrological characterization, performed by recording the response of several devices with different loading of the ZnO sensing layer with acetaldehyde concentration values spanning from 64 ppm down to 1.25 ppm, showed good performance. These initial results give a promising approach for producing a simple and cost-effective sensor technology based on QCM devices working at room temperature. © 2019 IEEE.