Dual function of Zn-doped NiO nanoparticles in high sensing of triethylamine gas and rhodamine B dye degradation

The release of toxic contaminants from industries has adverse effects on environment and the living organisms. Therefore, in this research we studied a dual-purpose material, Zn-doped NiO, which could efficiently serve as a triethylamine (TEA) gas sensor, as well as photodegrade rhodamine B. Nanoparticles of nickel oxide (NiO) with zinc (Zn) incorporation were produced using the solvothermal technique. The XRD investigation revealed that the crystallite size ranged from 16 to 24 nm. Studies using FESEM and TEM have shown that the ZNO contains agglomerated, quasi-spherical particles. It was found that the optical band gap energy ranged from 3.46 to 3.67 eV. ZNO nanoparticles had the maximum gas sensing efficiency for TEA at an optimal operating temperature of 260 °C, with a 9% efficiency for an initial TEA gas concentration of 100 ppm. The ZNO nanoparticles with 5% Zn, exhibited 91% efficiency when subjected to 10 ppm of Rhodamine B degradation. Thus, ZNO exhibits potential as a versatile material that can operate as an effective gas sensor for TEA and as a photocatalyst for the degradation of Rhodamine B.