Preparation and formaldehyde sensitive properties of N-GQDs/SnO2 nanocomposite

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have both the properties of graphene and semiconductor quantum dots, and exhibit stronger quantum confinement effect and boundary effect than graphene. In addition, the band gap of GQDs will transform to non-zero from 0 eV of graphene by surface functionalization, which can be dispersed in common solvents and compounded with solid materials. In this work, the SnO₂ nanosheets were prepared by hydrothermal method. As the sensitizer, nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) were prepared and composited with SnO₂ nanosheets. Sensing performance of pristine SnO₂ and N-GQDs/SnO₂ were investigated with HCHO as the target gas. The response (R_a/R_g) of 0.1% N-GQDs/SnO₂ was 256 for 100 ppm HCHO at 60 °C, which was about 2.2 times higher than pristine SnO₂ nanosheet. In addition, the material also had excellent selectivity and low operation temperature. The high sensitivity of N-GQDs/SnO₂ was attributed to the increase of active sites on materials surface and the electrical regulation of N-GQDs. This research is helpful to develop new HCHO gas sensor and expand the application field of GQDs.     

Resistive-type sensors based on few-layer MXene and SnO2 hollow spheres heterojunctions: Facile synthesis,ethanol sensing performances

High-performance and low-cost gas sensors are highly desirable and involved in industrial production and environmental detection. The combination of highly conductive MXene and metal oxide materials is a promising strategy to further improve the sensing performances. In this study, the hollow SnO₂ nanospheres and few-layer MXene are assembled rationally via facile electrostatic synthesis processes, then the SnO₂/Ti₃C₂T_x nanocomposites were obtained. Compared with that based on either pure SnO₂ nanoparticles or hollow nanospheres of SnO₂, the SnO₂/Ti₃C₂T_x composite-based sensor exhibits much better sensing performances such as higher response (36.979), faster response time (5 s), and much improved selectivity as well as stability (15 days) to 100 ppm C₂H₅OH at low working temperature (200 °C). The improved sensing performances are mainly attributed to the large specific surface area and significantly increased oxygen vacancy concentration, which provides a large number of active sites for gas adsorption and surface catalytic reaction. In addition, the heterostructure interfaces between SnO₂ hollow spheres and MXene layers are beneficial to gas sensing behaviors due to the synergistic effect.     

Enhanced CO sensing properties of Pd modified ZnO porous nanosheets

Noble metal is usually used to improve the gas sensing performance of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) due to its better catalytic properties. In this work, we reported a synthesis of Pd/ZnO nanocomposite by an in situ reduction with ascorbic acid (AA). It was found that Pd/ZnO sensor has excellent selectivity to CO and the response of the Pd/ZnO sensor towards 100 ppm CO was as high as 15 (R_a/R_g), obviously higher than that of the pristine ZnO sensor (1.4) when the working temperature is 220 °C. Moreover, the pure ZnO sensor almost has no selectivity to CO, but the Pd/ZnO sensor has excellent selectivity to CO, which may be ascribed to the electronic sensitization of Pd. Our present results demonstrate that the Pd can significantly improve the gas-sensing performance of metal oxide semiconductor and the obtained sensor has great potential in monitoring coal mine gas.     

Highly Responsive and Selective Ethanol Gas Sensor Based on Co3O4-Modified SnO2 Nanofibers

SnO₂ nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning and modified with Co₃O₄ via impregnation in this work. Chemical composition and morphology of the nanofibers were systematically characterized, and their gas sensing properties were investigated. Results showed that Co₃O₄ modification significantly enhanced the sensing performance of SnO₂ nanofibers to ethanol gas. For a sample with 1.2 mol% Co₃O₄, the response to 100 ppm ethanol was 38.0 at 300℃, about 6.7 times larger than that of SnO₂ nanofibers. In addition, the response/recovery time was also greatly reduced. A power-law dependence of the sensor response on the ethanol concentration as well as excellent ethanol selectivity was observed for the Co₃O₄/SnO₂ sensor. The enhanced ethanol sensing performance may be attributed to the formation of p-n heterojunctions between the two oxides.     

Application of Pt@SnO2 nanoparticles for hydrogen gas sensing

We report the fabrication of Pt@SnO₂ nanoparticles using a sol–gel method. These nanoparticles are used as a sensing material. The structural and morphological characterization of the prepared Pt@SnO₂ nanoparticles was performed using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The sensor responses of SnO₂ and 1 wt% Pt/SnO₂ to 1% hydrogen gas (H₂) were 1.3 and 1.9, respectively. The sensor response of a Pt@SnO₂ core–shell sensor increased to 5.1 at room temperature; it improved by 3.9 times compared to SnO₂ and by 2.7 times compared to 1% Pt/SnO₂ in sensing 1% H₂. The response time for the prepared Pt@SnO₂ sensor was also shortened by 2.0 and 1.4 times compared to SnO₂ and 1 wt% Pt/SnO₂, respectively. The sensor response increased rapidly from 1.4 to 5.1, with an increase in H₂ concentration from 800 to 10,000 ppm (1%). We investigated the H₂‐sensing mechanism of Pt@SnO₂.     

Simple self-assembly of 3D laminated CuO/SnO2 hybrid for the detection of triethylamine

Tin dioxide is important gas sensor material and has wide applications in the detection of toxic gases and volatile organic compounds. Here, we synthesized a 3D laminated structural CuO/SnO₂ material possessing p-n heterostructures. The morphology and structure were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM and XPS techniques and the sensing properties were investigated for the detection of triethylamine (TEA). The results indicate that 3D laminated CuO/SnO₂ material, assembled by lamellae consisting of ordered nanoparticles, exhibit an enhanced sensing performance compared with SnO₂, and notably, CuO/SnO₂ with size less than 1 μm has obvious high selectivity in the detection of 100 ppm TEA. Particularly, it has a high response and stability to 1 and 5 ppm TEA (S is 8 and 33), and that is higher than SnO₂ material, suggesting 3D laminated CuO/SnO₂ is an effective candidate material served as sensor platform to detect low-concentration amines.     

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of Pt/SnO2 gas sensor for CO detection

In this paper, the Pt/SnO₂ nanostructures were prepared via a facile one-step microwave assisted hydrothermal route. The structure of the introduced Pt/SnO₂ and its gas-sensing properties toward CO were investigated. The results from the TEM test reveal that Pt grows on the SnO₂ nanostructure, which was not found for bulk in this situ method, constructing Pt/SnO₂. The results indicated that the sensor using 3.0 wt% Pt/SnO₂ to 100 ppm carbon monoxide performed a superior sensing properties compared to 1.5 wt% and 4.5 wt% Pt/SnO₂ at 225 °C. The response time of 3.0 wt% sensor is 16 s to 100 ppm CO at 225 °C. Such enhanced gas sensing performances could be attributed to the chemical and electrical factors. In view of chemical factors, the presence of Pt facilitates the surface reaction, which will improve the gas sensing properties. With respect to the electrical factors, the Pt/SnO₂ plays roles in increasing the sensor’s response due to its characteristic configuration. In addition, the one-step in situ microwave assisted process provides a promising and versatile choice for the preparation of gas sensing materials.     

Highly Ordered Mesoporous Tungsten Oxides with a Large Pore Size and Crystalline Framework for H2S Sensing

An ordered mesoporous WO₃ material with a highly crystalline framework was synthesized by using amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐polystyrene (PEO‐b‐PS) diblock copolymers as a structure‐directing agent through a solvent‐evaporation‐induced self‐assembly method combined with a simple template‐carbonization strategy. The obtained mesoporous WO₃ materials have a large uniform mesopore size (ca. 10.9 nm) and a high surface area (ca. 121 m² g^?1). The mesoporous WO₃‐based H₂S gas sensor shows an excellent performance for H₂S sensing at low concentration (0.25 ppm) with fast response (2 s) and recovery (38 s). The high mesoporosity and continuous crystalline framework are responsible for the excellent performance in H₂S sensing.     

Zirconia-based amperometric sensor using ZnO sensing-electrode for selective detection of propene

The sensing characteristics to propene (C₃H₆) were examined at 600 °C under wet condition for the amperometric sensor using a yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) tube and ZnO (+8.5 wt%Pt) sensing-electrode (SE). In order to improve the sensitivity to C₃H₆, the “pulsed-potential method” was adopted here. It was found that the current response varied almost linearly with C₃H₆ concentration in the range of 0–200 ppm when SE was polarized at +1.0 V (vs. Pt/air reference electrode) for a period of 0.3 s. By using the present “pulsed-potential method”, the sensitivity to 100 ppm C₃H₆ was increased about 1000 times, compared with the normal “constant-potential method”. The excellent selectivity to C₃H₆ was also obtained for the present sensor without influence of other hydrocarbons, NO_x, CO, H₂, etc.     

Experimental Evidence of CO2 Photoreduction Activity of SnO2 Nanoparticles

Tin dioxide (SnO₂) has intrinsic characteristics that do not favor its photocatalytic activity. However, we evidenced that surface modification can positively influence its performance for CO₂ photoreduction in the gas phase. The hydroxylation of the SnO₂ surface played a role in the CO₂ affinity decreasing its reduction potential. The results showed that a certain selectivity for methane (CH₄), carbon monoxide (CO), and ethylene (C₂H₄) is related to different SnO₂ hydrothermal annealing. The best performance was seen for SnO₂ annealed at 150 °C, with a production of 20.4 μmol g⁻¹ for CH₄ and 16.45 μmol g⁻¹ for CO, while for SnO₂ at 200 °C the system produced more C₂H₄, probably due to a decrease of surface −OH groups.     

Prussian Blue Nanocubes‐SnO2 Quantum Dots‐Reduced Graphene Oxide Ternary Nanocomposite: An Efficient Non‐noble‐metal Electrocatalyst for Non‐enzymatic Detection of H2O2

Developing non‐noble‐metal electrocatalyst for non‐enzymatic H₂O₂ sensing is highly attractive. A facile, two‐step approach has been utilized for the synthesis of PBNCs/SnO₂ QDs/RGO ternary nanocomposite. TEM, SEM, XPS, and XRD techniques were used to the characterize the structural and morphological properties of synthesized ternary nanocomposite. The synthesized ternary nanocomposite has been examined as an electrode material for the electrochemical detection of H₂O₂ using the Amperometry technique. Under optimum conditions, PBNCs/SnO₂ QDs/RGO ternary nanocomposite performed very well in the electrocatalytic reduction of H₂O₂ with a linear dynamic range from 25–225 μM (R²=0.996) with a low detection limit of 71 nM (S/N=3). Compared to the recent literature, PBNCs/SnO₂QDs/RGO ternary nanocomposite based modified electrode exhibit a wider linear dynamic range with a low detection limit. Furthermore, PBNCs/SnO₂ QDs/RGO ternary nanocomposite based modified electrode showed an excellent anti‐interference ability against various common interfering agents. The practical applicability of this ternary nanocomposite based modified electrode was further extended to determine the H₂O₂ in tap water with acceptable recovery. The present performance of PBNCs/SnO₂ QDs/RGO ternary nanocomposite material towards H₂O₂ sensing might widen its application for developing a new type of non‐noble metal‐based non‐enzymatic electrochemical biosensors.     

Synthesis of hierarchical shell-core SnO2 microspheres and their gas sensing properties

Using SnSO₄, d-glucose, urea and water, hierarchical shell-core SnO₂ microspheres were successfully synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method. The characterization results showed that the sizes of as-prepared SnO₂ microspheres were 0.6–1 μm, with shell thicknesses of 40−60 nm. The shell and large core of the SnO₂ microspheres were all comprised of the same basic rice-like nanoparticles with diameters of 16−25 nm and lengths of 16−45 nm. Further investigaton showed that the glucose and urea served as structural guiding agents, and urea facilitated the formation of the hierarchical structure. The as-prepared SnO₂ nanomaterials were used to fabricate a gas sensor with an electrode blade used for the gas sensitivity tests. The hierarchical shell-core SnO₂ microspheres exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity toward ethanol, with a responsivity of 63.8 for 50 ppm ethanol at 250 °C, while the response and recovery time were 7 s and 28 s respectively. Moreover, the responsivity of the materials showed good linearity at ethanol concentrations from 500 ppb to 10 ppm. The simple synthetic method, environmentally-friendly raw materials, and excellent gas sensitivity demonstrate that the as-prepared SnO₂ nanomaterial has great potential applications for the sensing of ethanol gas.     

Reaction of [η 5:σ-Me2C(C5H4)(C2B10H10)]Ru(NCCH3)2 with internal alkynes: Synthesis and structural characterization of ruthenium-cyclobutadiene and ruthenacyclopentatriene complexes

Reaction of [η ⁵:σ-Me₂C(C₅H₄)(C₂B₁₀H₁₀)]Ru(NCCH₃)₂ (1) with R¹C≡CR¹(R¹ = Et, Ph) in toluene at 80°C yielded organoruthenium cyclobutadiene complexes [η ⁵:σ-Me₂C(C₅H₄)(C₂B₁₀H₁₀)]Ru(η ⁴-C₄R ₄ ¹ ) in >80% yield. Treatment of 1 with diynes R₂C≡C(CH₂)₃C≡CR² (R² = Me, Et) in toluene at room temperature yielded ruthenacyclopentatrienes [η ⁵:σ-Me₂C (C₅H₄)(C₂B₁₀H₁₀)]Ru[=C₂(R²)₂C₂(CH₂)₃] in >85% yield. These new complexes were fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, elemental analyses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The possible reaction mechanism was proposed.     

Solution-phase synthesis of ordered mesoporous carbon as resonant-gravimetric sensing material for room-temperature H_2S detection

H_2S can cause multiple diseases and poses a great threat to human health.However,the precise detection of extremely toxic H_2S at room temperature is still a great challenge.Here,a facile solvent evaporation induced aggregating assembly(EIAA) method has been applied for the production of ordered mesoporous carbon(OMCs) in an acidic THF/H_2 O solution with high-molecular-weight poly(ethylene oxide)-b-polystyrene(PEO-b-PS) copolymers as the structure-directing agent,formaldehyde and resorcinol as carbon precursors.Along with the continuous evaporation of THF from the mixed solution,cylindrical micelles are formed in the solution and further assemble into highly ordered mesostructure.The obtained OMCs possesses a two-dimensional(2 D) hexagonal mesostructure with uniform and large pore diameter(～19.2 nm),high surface area(599 m~2/g),and large pore volume(0.92 cm~3/g).When being used as the resonant cantilever gas sensor for room-temperature H_2S detection,the OMCs has delivered not only a superior gas sensing performance with ultrafast re s ponse(14 s) and recovery(21 s) even at low concentration(2 ppm) but also an excellent selectivity toward H_2S among various common interfering gases.Moreover,the limit of detection is better than 0.2 ppm,indicating its potential application in environmental monitoring and health protection.     

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of acetylides on substituted tricarbonyl(η6-fluoroarene)chromium and reactions of tricarbonyl[η6-(2-trimethylsilylethynyl)toluene]chromium and tricarbonyl[η6-(p-ethynyl-phenylethynyl)benzene]chromium with dicobalt octacarbonyl

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of various acetylides on substituted tricarbonyl(η⁶-fluoroarene)chromiums were pursued. The reaction presumably underwent a more complicated mechanism rather than the direct substitution on the fluorine-bearing carbon. The organometallic compounds (η⁶-C₆H₃R¹R²R³)Cr(CO)₃ (R¹: CC–C₆H₄CH₃, R²: o-Me, R³: H (5a), R¹: CC–C₆H₄CH₃, R²: o-OMe, R³: H (6a), R¹: CC–C₆H₄CH₃, R²: m-OMe, R³: H (6b), R¹: CCPh, R²: o-Me, R³: o-OMe (8b), R¹: CCPh, R²: m-Me, R³: m-OMe (8c), R¹: CCSiMe₃, R²: o-Me, R³: H (9a), R¹: CC–C₆H₄CCH, R²: H, R³: H (12), R¹: CC–C₆H₄CCH, R²: o-Me, R³: H (13)) as well as the organometallic dimmer [{(η⁶-o-Me-C₆H₄)Cr(CO)₃(di-ethynyl)] (di-ethynyl: CC–C₆H₄CC (14)) have been synthesized from nucleophilic substitution reactions of tricarbonyl(η⁶-fluoroarene)(chromium) compounds with suitable acetylides. The products have been characterized by spectroscopic means. In addition, (8b) and (8c) were characterized by X-ray diffraction studies. Further reactions of (9a) and (12) with appropriate amount of Co₂(CO)₈ yielded μ-alkyne bridged bimetallic complexes, Co₂(CO)₆{μ-Me₃SiCC–(o-tolueneCr(CO)₃} (10) and (Co₂(CO)₆)₂{μ-HCC–C₆H₄–CC–(benzene)Cr(CO)₃)}(15), respectively. Both (10) and (15) were characterized by spectroscopic means as well as single crystal X-ray crystallography. The core of these molecules is quasi-tetrahedron containing a Co₂C₂ unit. A two-dicobalt-fragments coordinated di-enyls complex, (Co₂(CO)₆)₂{μ-HCC–C₆H₄–CC–H} (17), was synthesized from the reaction of 1,3-diethynylbenzene with Co₂(CO)₈. Crystallographic studies of (17) also show that it exhibits a distorted Co₂C₂ quasi-tetrahedral geometry.     

Sensitive detection of Penicillin-G chemical using SnO2.YbO nanomaterials by electrochemical approach

In this approach, binary tin oxide doped ytterbium oxide nanosheets (SnO₂.YbO NSs) were synthesized in an alkaline phase using under low-temperature facile hydrothermal technique. Traditional methods such as UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR), Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Microscopy (FESEM) equipped with X-ray electron dispersive spectroscopy (XEDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to fully characterize the prepared SnO₂.YbO NSs. Fabrication of a thin-coating with doped NSs onto GCE by using 5% nafion conducting binder resulted in development of a selective and enzyme-free penicillin-G sensor probe. A reliable I-V technique was used to perform electrochemical performances of good sensitivity, large LDR, and long-term stability of the desired Penicillin-G sensor (SnO₂.YbO NSs/GCE/Nf). With a wide range of Penicillin-G concentration, the proposed calibration plot is noticed good linearity (R² = 0.9830). Sensitivity and LOD of the sensor were calculated as 24.75 μAμM^-1cm^?2 and 30.0 pM, respectively based on S/N = 3 formula. Real samples (Human and rabbit serum, milk, and red-sea water) were analyzed with the fabricated SnO₂.YbO NSs/GCE/Nf sensor probe and the findings results were acceptable and satisfactory. This approach could be a noble development of in-situ Penicillin-G sensor based on binary SnO₂.YbO NSs/GCE/Nf by reliable I-V technique for important sensing applications including beneficial doped nanomaterials and nano-technological system.     

Intramolecular dynamics of 3c2e bonded aryl groups in polynuclear aryl-copper, -silver and -gold derivatives

Dynamic ¹H and ¹³C NMR studies reveal that the prochiral methylene group in 2-(Me₂NCH₂)C₆H₄-metal compounds R₄M₂Li₂ (M = Cu, Ag or Au) is an excellent probe for the monitoring of the configuration at C(1) in each of the 2-(Me₂NCH₂)C₆H₄MLi units. In this way the rotation of 3c2e bonded aryl groups around the C(1)?C(4) axis has been unambiguously establish for the first time. Chiral labelling of the 3c2e bonded group provides information concerning the stereochemistry of the R₄M₂Li₂ cluster.     

Mixed-potential-type propylene sensor based on stabilized zirconia and oxide electrode

By using an oxide sensing electrode, a stabilized zirconia-based sensor was developed for the selective detection of hydrocarbons at high temperature. Among the 14 kinds of oxides tested, CdO was found to be best suited for the sensing electrode of a tubular device, giving selective and quick response to propylene (C₃H₆) in air at 600°C. The emf value of the device was almost linear to the logarithm of C₃H₆ concentration in the range 50–800 ppm. The cross-sensitivities to other gases, such as CH₄, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, H₂, CO, NO and NO₂, were small or insignificant. Furthermore, a compact planar device, which required no reference gas, was also fabricated. The C₃H₆ sensitivity of the planar device was found to be hardly influenced by a change in oxygen concentration in the sample gas in the range 2–21 vol.%. A sensing mechanism involving mixed potential was confirmed based on the measurements of polarization curves.     

Syntheses and bioactivities of mixed butyl/cyclohexyl tin carboxylates

Eight novel compounds have been synthesized and they are two series of mixed tri(butyl/cyclohexyl) tin carboxylates:Bu_nCy_(3-n) SnO_2CR (n=1,2;R=n-C_3H_7,C_6H_5,4-ClC_6H_4,4-NO_2C_6H_4).Inaddition to the studies of their structures with IR,~(119)Sn and ~(13)C NMR,we tested their fungicidal,insec-ticidal and acaricidal activities.The percentage of inhibition to the aforementioned phytopathogen isabout 80—100% at 50 ppm in glasshouse and 100% for T.Uriticae at 500 ppm.Those findingsindicate that this kindof compounds have both fungicidal and acaricidal activities and mayhave a goodprospect for applications.     

Nonenzymatic Hydrogen Peroxide Electrochemical Sensor Based on Au‐HS/SO3H‐PMO (Et) Nanocomposite

A newly nonenzymatic sensor for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) based on the (Au‐HS/SO₃H‐PMO (Et)) nanocomposite is demonstrated. The electrochemical properties of the as‐prepared nanocomposite were studied. It displayed an excellent performance towards H₂O₂ sensing in the linear response range from 0.20 µM to 4.30 mM (R=0.9999) with a sensitivity of 6.35×10² µA µM^?1 cm^?2 and a low detection limit of 0.0499 µM. Furthermore, it was not affected by electroactive interference species. These features proved that the modified electrode was suitable for determination of H₂O₂.