Comparative study of ethanol sensor based on gold nanoparticles: ZnO nanostructure and gold: ZnO nanostructure

Gold colloid:ZnO nanostructures were prepared from Zn powder by using thermal oxidation technique on alumina substrates, then it was impregnated by gold colloid for comparative study. The gold colloid is the solution prepared by chemical reduction technique; it appeared red color for gold nanoparticle solution and yellow color for gold solution. The heating temperature and sintering time of thermal oxidation were 700 °C and 24 h, respectively under oxygen atmosphere. The structural characteristics of gold colloid:ZnO nanostructures and pure ZnO nanostructures were studied using filed emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). From FE-SEM images, the diameter and length of gold colloid:ZnO nanostructures and ZnO nanostructures were in the ranges of 100-500 nm and 2.0-7.0 μm, respectively. The ethanol sensing characteristics of gold colloid:ZnO nanostructures and ZnO nanostructures were observed from the resistance alteration under ethanol vapor atmosphere at concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 ppm with the operating temperature of 260-360 °C. It was found that the sensitivity of sensor depends on the operating temperature and ethanol vapor concentrations. The sensitivity of gold colloid:ZnO nanostructures were improved with comparative pure ZnO nanostructures, while the optimum operating temperature was 300 °C. The mechanism analysis of sensor revealed that the oxygen species on the surface was O²⁻.     

Synthesis and H2 sensing properties of aligned ZnO nanotubes

Aligned ZnO nanotubes with the outer radius of about 200 nm were synthesized by a two-step approach, which involves electrospinning and sputtering techniques. The ZnO nanotubes are polycrystalline hexagonal structure, indicted by XRD and TEM analysis. The ZnO nanotubes show sensing property to H₂. The sensor response of the aligned nanotubes to 100 ppm H₂ increases from 2.3 to 3.6 with the temperature increasing from 200 to 400 °C. Beside, the sensor response of the ZnO nanotubes increases compared with that of the ZnO film prepared under the same condition.     

Gas sensing properties of single crystalline ZnO nanowires grown by thermal evaporation technique

The ZnO NWs were applied as effective material for the fabrication of ethanol (C₂H₅OH) and carbon monoxide (CO) gas sensor. The ZnO NWs were grown by thermal evaporation techniques on non-catalytic Si (100) substrates. The average width and length of ZnO NWs was 60 nm and 20 μm, respectively and they were single crystalline in nature. The maximum response was 51.64 at 300 °C for 1000 ppm of CO gas, while 104.23 at 400 °C for 250 ppm of ethanol gas. The response of ZnO NWs was very high for ethanol compared to the CO, whereas the recovery time for ethanol was very poor compare to CO gas. The response of ZnO NWs was about 25 times higher for ethanol compare to CO, at 400 °C for 100 ppm of each gas. The high response for ethanol is related to electron donating effect of ethanol (10e^?) which was higher than the CO gas (2e^?). The high response of ZnO NWs was attributed to large contacting surface area for electrons, oxygen, target gas molecule, and abundant channels for gas diffusion.     

Low-temperature growth and ethanol-sensing characteristics of quasi-one-dimensional ZnO nanostructures

ZnO nanorods, nanobelts, nanowires, and tetrapod nanowires were synthesized via thermal evaporation of Zn powder at temperatures in the range 550-600 °C under flow of Ar or Ar/O₂ as carrier gas. Uniform ZnO nanowires with diameter 15-25 nm and tetrapod nanowires with diameter 30-50 nm were obtained by strictly controlling the evaporation process. Our experimental results revealed that the concentration of O₂ in the carrier gas was a key factor to control the morphology of ZnO nanostructures. The gas sensors fabricated from quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) ZnO nanostructures exhibited a good performance. The sensor response to 500 ppm ethanol was up to about 5.3 at the operating temperature 300 °C. Both response and recovery times were less than 20 s. The gas-sensing mechanism of the ZnO nanostructures is also discussed and their potential application is indicated accordingly.     

Preparation of Cu-Zn/ZnO core-shell nanocomposite by wire electrical explosion and precipitation process in aqueous solution and CO sensing properties

Cu-Zn/ZnO nanocomposites with a novel core-shell structure have been prepared by a surface precipitation process in aqueous solution. X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy are employed to analyze the structure and morphology of the present products. The influence of the annealing temperature on the core-shell structure of the nanocomposites is investigated, and a possible growth model is proposed. Furthermore, the gas sensors based on the Cu-Zn/ZnO nanocomposites are fabricated and tested, which exhibits high sensitivity and fast response to CO. The best results are obtained for the sensor based on the film annealed at 350 °C, which shows that the sensitivity is about 6.3 when the sensor is exposed to 100 ppm CO at the operating temperature of 240 °C. The possible sensing mechanism of the Cu-Zn/ZnO sensing film has also been discussed.     

Facile synthesis of SnO2–ZnO core–shell nanowires for enhanced ethanol-sensing performance

The design of core–shell heteronanostructures is powerful tool to control both the gas selectivity and the sensitivity due to their hybrid properties. In this work, the SnO₂–ZnO core–shell nanowires (NWs) were fabricated via two-step process comprising the thermal evaporation of the single crystalline SnO₂ NWs core and the spray-coating of the grainy polycrystalline ZnO shell for enhanced ethanol sensing performance. The as-obtained products were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and photoluminescence. The ethanol gas-sensing properties of pristine SnO₂ and ZnO–SnO₂ core–shell NW sensors were studied and compared. The gas response to 500 ppm ethanol of the core–shell NW sensor increased to 33.84, which was 12.5-fold higher than that of the pristine SnO₂ NW sensor. The selectivity of the core–shell NW sensor also improved. The response to 100 ppm ethanol was about 14.1, whereas the response to 100 ppm liquefied petroleum gas, NH₃, H₂, and CO was smaller, and ranged from 2.5 to 5.3. This indicates that the core–shell heterostructures have great potential for use as gas sensing materials.     

Ammonia sensing characteristics of ZnO nanowires studied by quartz crystal microbalance

The ZnO nanowires have been prepared and studied as the sensing element for the detection of ammonia. The ZnO nanowires were first synthesized by evaporating high purity zinc pellets at 900 °C and then distributed onto the electrode surfaces of quartz crystals at room temperatures. Gas sensitive properties of ZnO nanowires layer were studied in terms of the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) at room temperature. It is found that the obtained response of the sensors varied with the thickness of the ZnO nanowires layer. ZnO nanowires showed high sensitivity to ammonia in the range of 40-1000 ppm. The response time of the sensor was as fast as ∼5 s at any concentration (40-1000 ppm) of ammonia gas. The ZnO nanowires-coated sensors have a good frequency stability and reproducibility. All results demonstrated that the ZnO nanowire was a potential gas sensing material for practical use.     

单根Sb掺杂ZnO微米线非平衡电桥式气敏传感器的制作与性能

通过使用化学气相沉积法,成功制备出超长、大尺寸的Sb掺杂ZnO微米线.基于非平衡电桥原理,利用单根Sb掺杂ZnO微米线作为非平衡电桥的一个桥臂,制作出了可以在室温环境下工作的气敏传感器原型器件.结果表明:室温下测得该传感器对20,50,100和200 ppm(1 ppm=10^-6)不同浓度的丙酮及乙醇气体的响应-恢复曲线均呈现为矩形形状,在空气及被测气体中均有稳定的电流值,并随着探测气体浓度的增大,器件的响应值也在逐渐增加.此外,还发现器件对丙酮气体具有更好的选择性,当丙酮气体浓度为200 ppm时,该传感器的响应时间为0.2 s,恢复时间为0.3 s,响应度高达243%.通过与普通电导式气敏传感器对比发现,采用这种非平衡电桥结构传感器可以明显地提高响应度,使响应和恢复时间更快.此外,还研究了器件的气体探测机理.     

Studies on the preparation and ethanol gas sensing properties of spinel Zn0.6Mn0.4Fe2O4 nanomaterials

Zn_1−xMn_xFe₂O₄ (x = 0, 0.2 and 0.4) nanomaterials were synthesized by sol–gel citrate method and studied structural and gas sensing properties. The structural characteristics of synthesized nanomaterials were studied by X-ray diffraction measurement (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results revealed that the particle size is in the range of 30–35 nm for Mn–Zn ferrite with good crystallinity. The gas sensing properties were studied towards reducing gases like LPG, CH_4, CO and ethanol and it is observed that Mn–Zn ferrite shows high response to ethanol at relatively lower operating temperature. The Zn_0.6Mn_0.4Fe₂O₄ nanomaterial shows better sensitivity towards ethanol at an operating temperature 300 °C. Incorporation of 1.5 wt.% Pd improved the sensitivity, selectivity, response time and reduced the operating temperature from 300 °C to 230 °C for ethanol sensor. The response time of 200 ppm ethanol in air is about 10s.     

Studies of structural evolution and sensing properties of ZnO nanocrystalline films

ZnO nanocrystalline films have been prepared on Si(1 0 0) substrate using direct current (D.C) magnetron sputtering technique at room temperature. The thickness of nanocrystalline films almost linearly increased with deposition duration and the sizes of crystalline grains almost kept unchanged. After deposition, thermal annealing was performed at 800 °C in atmosphere for 2 h in order to improve the qualities of ZnO thin films. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed the surface roughness of the films less than 45 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed the slight evolution of the crystal structures. Raman scattering spectra confirmed the data obtained from X-ray diffraction measurements.With these ZnO nanocrystalline films, prototypic gas sensors were fabricated. Both sensitivity and response of the sensors to different gases (H₂ and CH₄) were investigated. A quick response of time, less than 1 second to CH₄ gas sensor has been achieved.     

Hydrogen sensors based on ZnO nanoparticles

Hydrogen sensing characteristics of thick films of nanoparticles (∼35 nm diameter) of ZnO, 3% Co doped ZnO, 1% Pt-impregnated ZnO and 1% Pt-impregnated 3% Co-ZnO have been investigated. The last composition exhibits the highest sensitivity for 10-1000 ppm H₂, reaching values upto 1700 as well as good response and recovery times at 125 °C or lower. The sensor is not affected significantly upto 50% relative humidity.     

Strong exciton emission from ZnO microcrystal formed by continuous 532 nm laser irradiation

The Zinc oxide (ZnO) microcrystal is formed out of irradiated powder sample by a continuous-wave 532-nm laser with a high power of about 200 mW, and the microcrystal formation process is monitored by in situ Raman spectroscopy simultaneously. Scanning electron microscope image shows that multi-shaped ZnO microcrystal, including nano-rods and nano-flakes, is obtained near the brim of laser irradiated spot. The photoluminescence spectra of ZnO microcrystal are studied at both room temperature and low temperature of 10 K. With the ZnO microcrystal, we obtain that the peak intensity of near band-edge emission is at least 400 times stronger than that of deep-level emission at room temperature, and that up to fifth-order phonon replicas of free exciton emission are easily distinguished in the 10 K photoluminescence spectra. Both of them indicate that the ZnO microcrystal formed by intense laser irradiation has a very good crystalline structure.     

Nanocrystalline ZnO coated fiber optic sensor for ammonia gas detection

A cladding modified fiber optic sensor coated with nanocrystalline ZnO is proposed for ammonia gas detection. As-prepared and annealed zinc oxide (500 and 1200 °C) samples are used as the gas sensing media. The spectral characteristics of the fiber optic gas sensor are studied for various concentrations of ammonia (0–500 ppm). The sensor exhibits linear variation in the spectral peak intensity with the ammonia concentration. The characteristics of the sensor when exposed to ethanol and methanol gases are also studied for gas selectivity. The time response characteristics of the sensor are reported.     

The effects of solvent nature on spray-deposited ZnO thin film prepared from Zn (CH3COO)2, 2H2O

Transparent conducting zinc oxide was deposited on glass substrate by ultrasonic spray method. The ZnO samples with concentration of 0.1 M were deposited at 300, 350 and 400 °C with 2 min of deposition time. The effects of substrate temperature, ethanol and methanol solution on the structural, electrical and optical properties were examined. The DRX analyses indicated that ZnO films have polycrystalline nature and hexagonal wurtzite structure with (1 0 0) and (0 0 2) preferential orientation corresponding to ZnO films resulting from methanol and ethanol, respectively. The crystallinity of the thin films improved with ethanol solution. All films exhibit an average optical transparency about 80%, in the visible range. The band gap energy of ZnO films obtained with methanol solution higher than of ethanol solution for all the films. The electrical resistivity decrease with ZnO obtained from ethanol indicated; due to the maximum crystallite size retched at this point.     

Fabrication and characterization of Mg-doped pencil-shaped ZnO microprisms

Two types of novel Mg-doped pencil-shaped ZnO microprisms had been successfully synthesized on Mg(NO₃)₂-coated Si (1 1 1) substrates by thermal chemical vapor deposition method. The as-prepared ZnO prisms were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field-emission transmission electron microscope (FETEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The straight microprisms are made up of hexagonal pyramids tips and hexagonal prisms bodies. Both of the structures are perfect single crystal and have grown along the [0 0 0 1] direction preferentially. Photoluminescence reveals a red-shift at around 387 nm which is induced by Mg doping and a green light emission peak at around 511 nm. The pencil-shaped ZnO microstructure can provide an improvement in novel ultraviolet light-emitting devices. In addition, the growth mechanism of the special ZnO microprisms is discussed briefly.     

A comparative study on structural and optical properties of ZnO and Al-doped ZnO thin films obtained by ultrasonic spray method using different solvents

Transparent conducting ZnO and Al doped ZnO thin films were deposited on glass substrate by ultrasonic spray method. The thin films with concentration of 0.1 M were deposited at 350 °C with 2 min of deposition time. The effects of ethanol and methanol solution before and after doping on the structural, optical and electrical properties were examined. The DRX analyses indicated that ZnO films have nanocrystalline nature and hexagonal wurtzite structure with (1 0 0) and (0 0 2) preferential orientation corresponding to ZnO films resulting from methanol and ethanol solution, respectively. The crystallinity of the thin films improved with methanol solution after doping to (0 0 2) oriented. All films exhibit an average optical transparency about 90%, in the visible range. The band gaps values of ZnO thin films are increased after doping from 3.10 to 3.26 eV and 3.27 to 3.30 eV upon Al doping obtained by ethanol and methanol solution, respectively. The electrical conductivity increase from 7.5 to 15.2 (Ω cm)⁻¹ of undoped to Al doped ZnO thin films prepared by using ethanol solution. However, for the methanol solution; the electrical conductivity of the film is stabilized after doping.     

ZnO thin film deposition on butterfly shaped electrodes for ultraviolet sensing applications

ZnO thin film was deposited on patterned gold electrodes using sol–gel spin coating technique. Conventional photo-lithography with wet etching process was used to create butterfly shaped 13 μm gap from zero gap chrome mask. The deposited thin film was characterized structurally, morphologically and electrically using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and Kiethly sourcemeter. Current–voltage (I–V) characterization was captured in dark and UV conditions. The current gain of the fabricated device was 1.36 and the response and recovery time of the sensor was 76 s and 104 s, respectively, showed the fabricated device can be used for UV applications.     

Liquid phase epitaxial growth and optical property of flower-like ZnO nanosheets on Zinc foil

Large scale flower-like ZnO nanosheets have been synthesized on Zinc foil by a simple hydrothermal method. Their morphology and microstructures were characterized and analyzed by X-ray spectroscopy (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The as-synthesized flower-like nanosheets are hexagonal phase single crystal with 200-300 nm in width, 50 nm in thickness. The growth process follows the liquid phase epitaxial growth mechanism. In this approach, the ZnO buffer is used as substrate for the growth of flower-like ZnO nanosheets. The growth direction of the nanosheets is the preferential [0 0 0 1] growth direction of ZnO. The photoluminescence spectrum of the sample exhibits only a sharp and strong UV emission centered at 386 nm, which indicates that the flower-like ZnO nanosheets on Zn foil are of good optical property.     

A sol-gel method for preparing ZnO quantum dots with strong blue emission

ZnO quantum dots (QDs) with strong blue emission have been successfully synthesized by sol-gel method, and their crystal structures, sizes, and photoluminescence properties were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. It has been found that ZnO QDs had a hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure, and their average diameter was about 16.0-32.2 nm. Both the reaction time and temperature were found to have a strong influence on the average size and photoluminescence properties of ZnO QDs. Longer reaction time and higher reaction temperature resulted in larger average size for ZnO QDs. It has been shown that at reaction temperature 60 °C the emission intensity for ZnO QDs increased first with reaction time before 7 h and then decreased after 7 h. For the same reaction time 7 h, ZnO QDs synthesized at 60 °C showed the strongest emission intensity. It was found that annealing in nitrogen, vacuum, and air all resulted in an increase of the size of ZnO QDs and a reduction in their photoluminescence. The dependence of the size and properties of ZnO QDs on the reaction parameters as well as the annealing conditions has been discussed.     

Strong ultraviolet emission from zinc oxide thin films prepared by electrophoretic deposition

In this paper, we report a simple and efficient method to prepare high-quality nanocrystalline ZnO films by electrophoretic deposition. Absorption spectrum and transmission electron microscope image indicated that the average size of ZnO nanoparticles is about 9.5 nm. A strong ultraviolet emission peak at 384 nm is observed and the deep-level emission band is barely observed at room temperature. X-ray diffraction pattern revealed that the ZnO film has a polycrystalline hexagonal wurtzite structure. The Raman spectrum showed a typical resonant multi-phonon process within the ZnO film. The frequency shift of 1 LO phonon was about 583 cm⁻¹.