ZnO@ZIF-8: Gas sensitive core-shell hetero-structures show reduced cross-sensitivity to humidity

A ‘lawn-like’ distribution of interconnected zinc oxide nanorods, coated with a metal-organic compound based on zeolitic imidazolate frameworks – ZIF-8 was prepared on microstructured thin-film interdigitated Pt-electrodes forming ZnO@ZIF-8 core-shell heterostructures and investigated as gas sensor material in relation to the identical, but uncovered pure ZnO-layer. This composite combines the gas sensing properties of the metal oxide ZnO with the specific properties of the metal-organic framework material which result in a distinct change of the conditions of gas sensing at the ZnO/ZIF-8-interface. Herein, for the first time it is reported that as prepared ZnO@ZIF-8 composite material is an attractive choice to reduce the cross-sensitivity to water vapour (humidity) in the gas sensing response towards propene and ethene. The observed change of sensitivity in relation to uncovered ZnO is discussed to be due to (i) the specific interaction of the ZIF-8 at the interface with the ZnO taking influence on the gas reaction processes, (ii) the diffusivity of ZIF-8 for the different gas components, and (iii) the sorption behaviour of the used gases at the ZnO interface and inside the ZIF-8 material.