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.     

A novel SnO(2)-based gas sensor

A novel 'two-terminal' semiconductor gas sensor was developed based on a heavily Sb-doped SnO(2) film prepared by cathodic sputtering. The sensor is heated at its operational temperature by the gas sensitive film itself. A device for detecting the leakage of flammable gases, some noxious or hazardous gases can be made in this way.     

Ferrimagnetic Mn2SnO4 nanowires

Single-crystalline Mn2SnO4 nanowires were first synthesized by chemical vapor deposition; they consist of inverse spinel structure grown with the [111] direction; the nanowires have a ferrimagnetic phase below 46 K (T(C)) with large hysteresis; this ferrimagnetic transition is probably due to the presence of Mn3+ ions at octahedral sites.     

High quality Sb-doped SnO2 electrodes with high oxygen evolution potential prepared by in situ hydrothermal synthesis method

High quality Sb-doped SnO_2 electrode,with high oxygen evolution potential of 3.0 V,was successfully synthesized on the Ti substrates by in situ hydrothermal synthesis method.     

Alpha-CuV2O6 nanowires: hydrothermal synthesis and primary lithium battery application

We report on the synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical lithium intercalation of alpha-CuV2O6 nanowires, mesowires, and microrods that were prepared through a facile hydrothermal route. The diameters of the as-synthesized alpha-CuV2O6 nanowires, mesowires, and microrods were about 100 nm, 400 nm, and 1 microm, respectively. It was found that by simply controlling the hydrothermal reaction parameters, such as the reagent concentration and the dwell time, the transformation of microrods to nanowires was readily achieved via a "ripening-splitting" mechanism. Electrochemical measurements revealed that the as-prepared alpha-CuV2O6 nanowires and mesowires displayed high discharge capacities (447-514 mAh/g at 20 mA/g and 37 degrees C) and excellent high-rate capability. In particular, the alpha-CuV2O6 nanowires showed capacities much higher than those of alpha-CuV2O6 mesowires, microrods, and bulk particles. The mechanisms for the electrochemical lithium intercalation into the alpha-CuV2O6 nanowires were also discussed. From the Arrhenius plot of lithium intercalation into alpha-CuV2O6 nanowires, the activation energies were calculated to be 39.3 kJ/mol at 2.8 V (low lithium uptake) and 35.7 kJ/mol at 2.3 V (high lithium uptake). This result indicates that the alpha-CuV2O6 nanowires are promising cathode candidates for primary lithium batteries used in long-term implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD).     

Size-controllable synthesis of monodispersed SnO2 nanoparticles and application in electrocatalysts

Size-controllable tin oxide nanoparticles are prepared by heating ethylene glycol solutions containing SnCl(2) at atmospheric pressure. The particles were characterized by means of transmission electron microscopic (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. TEM micrographs show that the obtained material are spherical nanoparticles, the size and size distribution of which depends on the initial experimental conditions of pH value, reaction time, water concentration, and tin precursor concentration. The XRD pattern result shows that the obtained powder is SnO(2) with tetragonal crystalline structure. On the basis of UV/vis and FTIR characterization, the formation mechanism of SnO(2) nanoparticles is deduced. Moreover, the SnO(2) nanoparticles were employed to synthesize carbon-supported PtSnO(2) catalyst, and it exhibits surprisingly high promoting catalytic activity for ethanol electrooxidation.     

Size-controllable one-dimensional SnO2 nanocrystals: synthesis, growth mechanism, and gas sensing property

Single crystalline one-dimensional (1-D) SnO(2) nanocrystals with controllable sizes, including the diameter and the aspect ratio, were synthesized by modulating the precursor concentration, reaction time and temperature via a solution method. By regulating the growth in a kinetic regime, a higher temperature range (220-240 degrees C) was beneficial to the growth of SnO(2) nanowires, while reactions below 220 degrees C only resulted in nanorods or even nanoparticles. The aggregates of SnO(2) nanocrystals in the forms of hollow spheres and dendrites were observed as the intermediates for the nanowires. Based on the TEM and SEM observations, the growth mechanism is discussed from the viewpoints of the nature of the reverse micelles and the crystal habit of rutile SnO(2). CO gas sensing measurements were also carried out for SnO(2) nanocrystals with different assembly styles. The results indicate that the sensitivity had close correlation to the specific surface area of the nanocrystals.     

A new approach to selective detection of gas by an SnO2 solid-state sensor

Tin dioxide (SnO₂) is sensitized for different gaseous compounds by heating at 500 °C in an SO₂—air mixtures. Such treatment induces strong modifications of the electrical properties of SnO₂ and constitutes an attempt to solve the problem of selectivity for chemical sensors. According to the nature of the surrounding gas, the electrical conductance curves as a function of the temperature present a maximum at different temperatures: 400 °C with C₆H₆ and 100 °C with H₂S. These maxima, whose values are related to the gas concentration, can be used for selective gas detection.A benzene detector device using two sensors heated to 400 and 500 °C respectively selectivity for a large number of gaseous compounds.     

Large-scale synthesis and microstructure of SnO2 nanowires coated with quantum-sized ZnO nanocrystals on a mesh substrate

Large-quantity single-crystal SnO(2) nanowires coated with quantum-sized ZnO nanocrystals (nc-ZnO/SnO(2) nanowires) were directly synthesized by thermal evaporation of SnO powder and a mixture of basic ZnCO(3) and graphite powders. A common stainless steel mesh was used to collect the products. The microstructure and possible growth mechanism of the nc-ZnO/SnO(2) nanowires were investigated. Results showed that tetragonal structured SnO(2) nanowires were obtained, whose surfaces were coated with single-layer ZnO nanocrystals with an average diameter of less than 5 nm. The nanowires had cross-rectangle section with width-to-thickness aspect ratio ranging from 2:1 to 5:1. The lengths of the nanowires were several tens of micrometers. ZnO nanocrystals were single crystalline wurtzite structures, which coated the whole nanowires and distributed uniformly. The possible growth mechanism of the composite nanowires may be enucleated that Zn atoms in the source vapor will replace the Sn atoms on the surface of the formed SnO(2) nanowires due to the higher reducibility of Zn than Sn. Two strong Raman scattering peaks at 626 and 656 cm(-1) appeared in the micro-Raman spectrum of nc-ZnO/SnO(2) nanowires. The origins of the peaks were discussed. Most importantly, the method can be extended to other composite oxide nanowires that are synthesized by oxidizing two kinds of metals, such as high reducibility elements Mg, Al, Zn, and Ti, and low reducibility elements In, Ge, Ga, etc.     

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of organophosphorus pesticide residues using temperature modulated SnO(2) gas sensor

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of organophosphorus pesticide residues (acephate and trichlorphon) using temperature modulated SnO₂ gas sensor were studied. The testing method employed only a single SnO₂-based gas sensor in a rectangular temperature mode to perform the qualitative analysis of pure pesticide vapor and a binary vapor mixture in the air. Experimental results showed that in the range 250-300 °C and at the modulating frequency of 20 mHz the high selectivity of the sensor could be achieved. The quantitative analysis of the pure pesticide vapor and their mixture were performed by fast Fourier transformation (FFT). The higher harmonics of the FFT characterized the non-linear properties of the response at the sensor surface. The amplitudes of the higher harmonics exhibited characteristic variations that depend on the concentration and the kinetics of pesticide species on the sensor surface.     

Effects of tetraethyl orthosilicate binder on the characteristics of AN SnO2 ceramic-type semiconductor gas sensor

As part of the research to improve the long-term stability of sintered SnO₂ semiconductor gas sensors, we examined the effect of the degree of polymerization (referred to as DP) of ethyl silicate binders added to the sensors on their characteristics. DPs in the range one to four were investigated. By using a binder with a large DP gas sensibility is increased and the sensor resistance is decreased. Humidity dependency and long-term stability are improved by using a binder with a smaller DP. A binder whose DP is more than 2.0 is needed in order to obtain the necessary mechanical strength of the sensor. We concluded that the binder's DP should be 2.5 for the sensor to be stable during long-term operation.Through measurements of H₂ oxidation activity and temperature-programmed desorption for H₂O and O₂, we concluded that the long-term change in the sensor sensitivity is based on the change in its catalytic activity caused by the increase or decrease of the amount of the hydroxyls on its surface.     

CoV2O6纳米线／微米棒的制备及其在锂离子电池中的应用

采用水热法制备了纳米线／微米棒结构的CoV2O6电极材料,并探讨了纳米线／微米棒的形成机理．通过XRD、BET、SEM、TEM／HRTEM等测试手段对合成产物的结构、形貌、组成、表面性质进行了表征,结果表明,水热条件例如反应温度、反应时间对于产物的结构和形貌起关键作用．在220℃,水热反应1h可以得到直径为60nm的CoV2O6纳米线,而在220℃,水热反应6h可以得到直径10μm的CoV2O6微米棒．研究了CoV2O6纳米线／微米棒作为锂离子电池负极材料的电化学性能,结果显示,与CoV2O6微米棒相比,CoV2O6纳米线具有高的初始放电容量（1235mAh/g）和较好的循环稳定性,CoV2O6纳米线有希望作为锂离子电池的负极材料．     

Single-crystalline gold microplates: synthesis, characterization, and thermal stability

Single-crystalline gold microplates of several 10 microm in lateral size, characterized by hexagonal, truncated triangular, and triangular shapes with (111) planes as two basal surfaces, have been synthesized in large quantities through a solution phase process. Significantly, such anisotropic Au nanostructures exhibit remarkable optical properties, in which the dipole plasmon resonance shifting in the NIR region and the quadrupole plasmon resonance at approximately 820 nm were observed. Fragmentation of Au microplates is found when the temperature is higher than 450 degrees C, indicating they are not thermodynamically stable structure at high temperature. Investigations on the Au microplates upon heating suggest that the melting and collapsing start mainly at the edges that should be Au (110) facets. This work is valuable for Au nanostructures applied at elevated temperatures.     

Dynamic determination of domestic liquefied petroleum gas down to several ppm levels using a Sr-doped SnO2 thick film gas sensor

Sr-doped SnO₂ thick film gas sensors were prepared for domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) determination down to several ppm levels using the screen-printing technique. Characterization of Sr-doped SnO₂ thick film was investigated by XRD, XPS and DTA-TGA analyses. The sensitivity, selectivity, sintering temperature, and static and dynamic measurement were investigated. The results showed that the Sr-doped SnO₂ thick film sensor is suitable for several ppm levels LPG determination because of the high sensitivity (S = 12.7 to 10 ppm LPG). The dynamic measurements showed that the sensor exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity to domestic LPG at 210–300 °C.     

A solution-phase, precursor route to polycrystalline SnO2 nanowires that can be used for gas sensing under ambient conditions

This paper describes a solution-based, precursor method for the facile synthesis of uniform nanowires containing rutile SnO2 nanocrystallites. In a typical procedure, nanowires of approximately 50 nm in diameters and up to 30 mum in length were obtained as a white precipitate by refluxing SnC2O4.2H2O and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) in ethylene glycol. Structural analyses by XRD, FT-IR, and TGA indicate that these highly anisotropic nanostructures were formed in an isotropic medium through the aggregation of chainlike precursors that were, in turn, formed via polyol-mediated oligomerization. These nanowires could be further converted to polycrystalline SnO2 by calcination in air at 500 degrees C. The resultant nanowires of SnO2 were highly porous and could be used for gas sensing with improved sensitivity and reversibility under ambient conditions. We have also demonstrated that this new approach could be extended to generate polycrystalline nanowires of other metal oxides such as In2O3 and anatase TiO2.     

Transmission electron microscopy study of pseudoperiodically twinned Zn2SnO4 nanowires

The ternary oxide functional nanomaterial Zn2SnO4 has been synthesized by the thermal evaporation method. The products in general contain numerous kinds of nanowires. In the present work, a remarkable type of Zn2SnO4 nanowires with a pseudoperiodical twinning structure has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These nanowires with a diameter of about 100 nm grow along the 111 direction. High-resolution TEM examinations suggest that a large fraction of the (111) twin boundaries are extended to a thickness of a few nanometers. The twining plane for the perfect case is localized on the Zn atom layer.     

Nanocrystalline TiO2/SnO2 composites for gas sensors

TiO₂/SnO₂ nanocomposites are studied as potential candidates for gas sensors. Commercial metal oxide nanopowders milled for 1?h in ethanol are used for preparing nanocomposites with varied composition from 100?mol% TiO₂ to 100?mol% SnO₂. Brunauer?CEmmett?CTeller (BET) adsorption isotherms served to determine specific surface area, SSA. The particle size distribution is established by means of Dynamic Light Scattering, DLS technique. Differential Thermal Analysis and Thermogravimetry, DTA/TG measurements within the temperature range of 20?C900?°C indicate better stability of nanomaterials composed of bigger particles or agglomerates. The total mass loss varies from 0.9 to 8.5% for 100?mol% SnO₂ and 100?mol% TiO₂, respectively. The only gaseous products of decomposition are water and carbon dioxide. X-ray diffraction analysis of nanocomposites indicates two separate phases of different crystallite size, i.e., smaller rutile TiO₂ (9?nm) and larger cassiterite SnO₂ (28?nm). Gas sensor dynamic responses at 400?°C to the reducing gas??ammonia (NH₃) are detected in the concentration range extending from 100?ppm to ?5000?ppm. Nanosensor of 50?mol% SnO₂/50?mol% TiO₂ is stable and sensitive to the interaction with NH₃ and gives the highest response at 400?°C.