Synthesis of nanostructured copper oxide via oxalate precursors and their sensing properties for hydrogen cyanide gas

In this work, nanostructured copper oxide of varied morphologies and high surface area were prepared by calcination of copper oxalate precursors, and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements. The sphere-like CuO (specific surface area: 73 m2 g−1) functionalized QCM resonators were fabricated and explored for HCN sensing. The sensitivity (10 s HCN exposure) of sphere-like CuO functionalized QCM resonators reached as high as 6.53 Hz μg−1. The reproducibility and stability of sphere-like CuO functionalized QCM resonators was excellent, and the selectivity was very high with a converse response to examined common chemicals. The high surface area CuO functionalized QCM sensors may be applicable for HCN gas sensing.