Low-cost domestic microwave synthesis of SnO2/CuO nanostructure for ethanol detection

Low-cost preparation of nanostructured materials is one of the important factors for the commercialization of sensors. This study reports the sustainable and low-cost synthesis of pure SnO₂ and SnO₂-CuO nanostructures using a domestic microwave annealing approach. The material obtained was structurally examined using X-ray diffraction and a scanning electron microscope. The pure SnO₂ and SnO₂-CuO inks were deposited over laser-induced graphene interdigitated electrodes. Towards the volatile organic compounds, the pure SnO₂ and SnO₂-CuO went through ethanol sensing. The SnO₂-CuO-based sensor demonstrated strong response and selectivity for detecting ethanol at room temperature with a response of 11%, a response time of 53 s, and a recovery time of 64 s at 100 ppm of ethanol. The high response and selectivity of the sensor towards ethanol make it ideal for continuous tracking in both environmental and industrial settings.