ZnO nanomaterials based surface acoustic wave ethanol gas sensor

ZnO nanomaterials based surface acoustic wave (SAW) gas sensor has been investigated in ethanol environment at room temperature. The ZnO nanomaterials have been prepared through thermal evaporation of high-purity zinc powder. The as-prepared ZnO nanomaterials have been characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques. The results indicate that the obtained ZnO nanomaterials, including many types of nanostructures such as nanobelts, nanorods, nanowires as well as nanosheets, are wurtzite with hexagonal structure and well-crystallized. The SAW sensor coated with the nanostructured ZnO materials has been tested in ethanol gas of various concentrations at room temperature. A network analyzer is used to monitor the change of the insertion loss of the SAW sensor when exposed to ethanol gas. The insertion loss of the SAW sensor varies significantly with the change of ethanol concentration. The experimental results manifest that the ZnO nanomaterials based SAW ethanol gas sensor exhibits excellent sensitivity and good short-term reproducibility at room temperature.     

Preparation of modified MWCNTs-doped PANI nanorods by oxygen plasma and their ammonia-sensing properties

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-doped polyaniline (PANI) nanopowders were prepared by chemical oxidation polymerization. Then, the MWCNTs-doped PANI nanopowders were modified by a radio frequency (RF) oxygen plasma source. The morphology and structure of modified MWCNTs-doped PANI nanorods were analyzed by SEM and FI-IR. Gas sensors were fabricated based on plasma modified MWCNTs-doped PANI nanorods to detect ammonia at room temperature. The response amplitude of the gas sensor based on modified MWCNTs-doped PANI nanorods was much higher than those of MWCNTs-doped PANI nanopowders and pure PANI nanopowders sensors, respectively, in ammonia concentration range of 10–150 ppm. Cross responses of modified MWCNTs-doped PANI nanorods sensor to ammonia, ethanol, formaldehyde, and toluene were tested. The sensor showed good selectivity and stability. The sensing mechanism of modified MWCNTs-doped PANI nanorods gas sensor was analyzed.     

Synthesis and gas sensor properties of flower-like 3D ZnO microstructures

Flower-like ZnO 3D microstructures composed of nanorods have been successfully prepared via a facile hydrothermal method using p-nitrobenzoic acid as the structure-directing agent. The structures and morphologies of the final products have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). The possible mechanism for the synthesis of the flower-like ZnO microstructures has been proposed primarily. The gas sensitivity of the flower-like ZnO microstructures has been studied to a series of organic vapors at different operation temperatures and vapor concentrations. The results show that the flower-like ZnO microstructures composed of nanorods have good gas sensor properties to ethanol.     

A simple one-step solvothermal synthesis of hierarchically structured ZnO hollow spheres for enhanced selective ethanol sensing properties

A simple one-step solvothermal method, using ethanolamine as solvent without any additives except zinc source, has been employed to synthesize hierarchically structured ZnO hollow spheres consisting of numerous orderly and radical nanorods with diameter of several tens nanometers and length of 2–3 μm. The ethanolamine and the solvothermal process play the critical role in the synthesis of the ZnO hollow spheres by the primary formation of ZnO crystal nucleus and subsequent transformation into nanorods, which self-assemble into hollow spheres. The morphology and structure of the spheres have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller N₂ adsorption–desorption analyses. The results also indicate that the sensor based on the prepared ZnO hollow spheres exhibit good ethanol sensing performance, which can be attributed to its structural defects and high surface-to-volume ratio that significantly facilitate the absorption of oxygen species and diffusion of target gas. Besides, the sensor shows high selectivity to ethanol because ZnO as a basic oxide is favored for dehydrogenation of ethanol.     

一维氧化锌的水热合成及其气敏性能的研究

Zn(NO₃)₂为原料,CTAB为形貌控制剂, 采用水热合成技术制备了一维氧化锌粉体. 采用X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电镜(TEM)、扫描电镜(SEM)等测试技术对产物的相组成和微观形态进行了表征和分析, 结果表明一维氧化锌属于六方晶系, 分散性好, 纯度高, 直径～200nm, 长度～5μm. 用该粉体制成烧结型旁热式气敏元件, 测试其气敏性能. 结果表明, 在170℃左右对10ppm的三甲胺、甲醇等还原性气体有很好的响应. 文中对一维材料的气敏机理也进行了讨论.     

Cu2+掺杂ZnO纳米棒的制备及气敏性能研究

通过溶剂热法(无水乙醇)制备了Cu2+(0～6mol%)掺杂ZnO纳米棒粉体,采用X射线衍射仪和扫描电镜对掺杂ZnO纳米粉体的晶体结构和微观形貌进行了表征.研究了Cu2+掺杂比例、溶剂热反应温度及时间对材料气敏性能的影响;考察ZnO(120℃,10h)和3mol%Cu2+掺杂ZnO(120℃,10h)粉体对应元件对甲醛、乙酸、甲苯、乙醇、丙酮、三甲胺等六种气体的气敏性能.结果表明:通过溶剂热法制备的ZnO粉体为纳米棒状结构,棒长度和直径随Cu2+掺杂比例不同发生变化;3mol%Cu2+掺杂ZnO(120℃,10h)样品对应元件对低浓度乙醇有很好的选择性,在395℃工作温度下对1×10–3乙醇的灵敏度为380.5,响应和脱附时间分别为5 s和40 s,对1×10–6乙醇的灵敏度可达4.2.     

Preparation and ethanol sensing properties of the superstructure SnO2/ZnO composite via alcohol-assisted hydrothermal route

Self-assembled superstructure of SnO₂/ZnO composite was synthesized by using alcohol-assisted hydrothermal method gas sensing properties of the material were investigated by using a static test system. The structure and morphology of the products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The diameter of the SnO₂ nanorods was about 40 nm with a length of about 300 nm, SnO₂ nanorods and ZnO nanosheets interconnect each other to form a superstructure. The gas sensing properties of superstructure SnO₂/ZnO composite with different content of ZnO were investigated. Furthermore, the superstructure SnO₂/ZnO composite sensor is characterized at different operating temperatures and its long-term stability in response to ethanol vapor is tested over a period of 3 months.     

标准物质作用下ZnO基氨气传感器的研究

氨气是一种工农业生产中常见的气态污染物,市场上对氨气检测的需求随着经济的发展日益增长。基于ZnO优异的光学与气敏性能,以ZnO为气敏材料的氨气传感器逐渐成为研究的热点。在氨气检测过程中,标准物质起到至关重要的作用。由氨气、氧气、氮气、二氧化碳等标准物质构成的标准混合气体来模拟空气中氨气在便携式氨气传感器中的响应,可以保证所开发氨气传感器的准确性,进而有望对便携式氨气传感器进行检定校准,从而保证氨气传感器稳定、可靠的运行。      

Facile synthesis of Ag/ZnO nanorods using Ag/C cables as templates and their gas-sensing properties

A solid-state chemical reaction with the assistance of Ag/C nanocables was implemented for the preparation of Ag/ZnO nanorods. This is the first time Ag/ZnO nanorods are fabricated by using Ag/C cables as template. Compared with the traditional organic surfactant, Ag/C cable is a new and effective template to control the shape of precursors in the solid-state reaction under ambient conditions. The results of systematical gas-sensing studies demonstrate that the sensor based on Ag/ZnO nanorod materials has high sensitivity, good selectivity and short response and reversion time to ethanol. It demonstrates that Ag/ZnO nanorods can be used as gas-sensing material.     

Solution-processed ZnO-chemically converted graphene gas sensor

We report a solution-processed gas sensor based on vertically aligned ZnO nanorods (NRs) on a chemically converted graphene (CCG) film. The prepared sensor device effectively detected 2 ppm of H₂S in oxygen at room temperature. A high sensitivity of the gas sensor resulted from the growth of highly dense vertical ZnO NRs on the CCG film with numerous tiny white dots on its surface, which may provide a sufficient number of sites for the nucleation and growth of the ZnO NRs. The adsorption of oxygen on the surface of the ZnO NRs was found to be crucial for obtaining an excellent gas sensing performance of the ZnO NRs-CCG sensor.     

Uniform ZnO nanorods can be used to improve the response of ZnO gas sensor

Uniform ZnO nanorods were synthesized in high-yield by using metal zinc powder as zinc source via a one-step facile hydrothermal process under mild conditions, in which cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) with ordered chain structures acted as the conversion of Zn powder into ZnO nanorods. The characterization results show that the as-synthesized products were structurally uniform and have diameters of 40–80 nm. Gas sensing properties studies show that ZnO nanorods exhibit more excellent response and stability to ethanol than that of ZnO nanoparticles. After working continuously for 50 days, the sensitivity of ZnO nanorods still retained 7.3, whereas, the ZnO nanoparticles showed only 1.0. The facile preparation method and the improved properties derived from typical rods-like nanostructure are significant for the future applications of gas sensing material.     

Ethanol sensing properties of porous ZnO spheres via hydrothermal route

ZnO spheres composed of porous flakes were prepared by template-free, economical hydrothermal method combined with heat treatment. The high-density pores with the size in tens of nanometers were found distributed through each piece of the flake. The sensor based on porous ZnO spheres showed improved ethanol response compared to that based on commercial ZnO powders. ZnO spheres sensor showed obvious response to 2 ppm ethanol at the operation temperature of 280 °C, with the corresponding response value of 2.8 and the response and recovery times of 10 and 15 s, respectively. The response of the sensor increased linearly with the concentration of ethanol in the range of 2–500 ppm. The good sensing performance of the ZnO sphere sensor to ethanol gas indicated that the ZnO sphere could be a promising candidate as the building block for highly sensitive and reliable gas sensor.     

The mechanical properties and test of a single ZnO nanorod inside scanning electron microscopy

The bending and tensile tests of the ZnO nanorods were carried out by controlling a force sensor and a nano-manipulator inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The force sensor was mounted on the nano-manipulator, was controlled with the nano-manipulate. The load response during the mechanical test for the ZnO nanorod was obtained by using the force sensor which is formed as a cantilever. The elastic modulus of the ZnO nanorods after the tensile and bending tests were calculated and compared. The elastic modulus of ZnO nanorods was depended on a size and an aspect ratio of the ZnO nanorods. The difference of the elastic modulus of ZnO nanorods was obtained with a difference of test methods performed along crystal facets direction of the ZnO nanorods. The average elastic modulus calculated after the tensile test was approximately 57.15 GPa. In case of the bending test, the average elastic modulus was approximately 29.37 GPa.     

Hydrothermal growth of symmetrical ZnO nanorod arrays on nanosheets for gas sensing applications

The hierarchical ZnO nanostructures with 2-fold symmetrical nanorod arrays on zinc aluminum carbonate (ZnAl-CO₃) nanosheets have been successfully synthesized through a two-step hydrothermal process. The primary nanosheets, which serve as the lattice-matched substrate for the self-assembly nanorod arrays at the second-step of the hydrothermal route, have been synthesized by using a template of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO). The as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, FESEM, TEM and SAED. The nanorods have a diameter of about 100 nm and a length of about 2 μm. A growth mechanism was proposed according to the experimental results. The gas sensor fabricated from ZnO nanorod arrays showed a high sensitivity to ethanol at 230°C. In addition, the response mechanism of the sensors has also been discussed according to the transient response of the gas sensors.     

Fast UV detection and hydrogen sensing by ZnO nanorod arrays grown on a flexible Kapton tape

ZnO nanorod arrays were grown on a flexible Kapton tape using microwave-assisted chemical bath deposition. High crystalline properties of the produced nanorods were proven by X-ray diffraction patterns and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, the photoluminescence spectrum showed higher UV peaks compared with visible peaks, which indicates that the ZnO nanorods had high quality and low number of defects. The metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) configuration was used to fabricate UV and hydrogen gas detectors based on the ZnO nanorods grown on a flexible Kapton tape. Upon exposure to 395 nm UV light, the UV device exhibited fast response and decay times of 37 ms and 44 ms, respectively, at a bias voltage of 30 V. The relative sensitivities of the gas sensor made of the ZnO nanorod arrays, at hydrogen concentration of 2 %, at room temperature, 150 °C and 200 °C, are 0.42, 1.4 and 1.75 respectively.     

A ZnO nanorod based layered ZnO/64° YX LiNbO3 SAW hydrogen gas sensor

A zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod based surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor has been developed and investigated towards hydrogen (H₂) gas. The ZnO nanorods were deposited onto a layered ZnO/64° YX LiNbO₃ substrate using a liquid solution method. Micro-characterization results revealed that the diameters of ZnO nanorods are around 100 and 40 nm on LiNbO₃ and Au (metallization for electrodes), respectively. The sensor was exposed to different concentrations of H₂ in synthetic air at operating temperatures between 200 °C and 300 °C. The study showed that the sensor responded with highest frequency shift at 265 °C. At this temperature, stable baseline and fast response and recovery were observed.     

Selective growth of ZnO nanorods for gas sensors using ink-jet printing and hydrothermal processes

Selective growth of ZnO nanorod arrays with well-defined areas was developed to fabricate the NO₂ gas sensor. The seed solution was ink-jet printed on the interdigitated electrodes. Then, vertically aligned ZnO nanorods were grown on the patterned seed layer by the hydrothermal approach. The influences of seed-solution properties and the ink-jet printing parameters on the printing performance and the morphology of the nanorods were studied. Round micropattern (diameter: 650 μm) of ZnO nanorod arrays is demonstrated. The dimensions and positions of the nanorod arrays can be controlled by changing the printed seed pattern. The effects of nanorod structure and nanorod size on the gas-sensing capability of ZnO nanorod gas sensors were demonstrated. Due to the high surface-to-volume ratios of the nanorod-array structure, the ZnO nanorod gas sensor can respond to 750 ppb NO₂ at 100 °C. The sensors without baking treatment exhibit the typical response of a p-type semiconductor. However, only the response of n-type semiconductor oxides was observed after the annealing treatment at 150 °C for 2 h.     

A comparative study on the NO2 gas sensing properties of ZnO thin films, nanowires and nanorods

ZnO thin films were fabricated using the spin coating method, ZnO nanowires by cathodically induced sol-gel deposition by the means of an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template, and ZnO nanorods with the hydrothermal technique. For thin film preparation, a clear, homogeneous and stable ZnO solution was prepared by the sol-gel method using zinc acetate (ZnAc) precursor which was then coated on a glass substrate with a spin coater. Vertically aligned ZnO nanowires which were approximately 65 nm in diameter and 10 μm in length were grown in an AAO template by applying a cathodic voltage in aqueous zinc nitrate solution at room temperature. For fabrication of the ZnO nanorods, the sol-gel ZnO solution was coated on glass substrate by spin coating as a seed layer. Then ZnO nanorods were grown in zinc nitrate and hexamthylenetetramine aqueous solution. The ZnO nanorods are approximately 30 nm in diameter and 500 nm in length. The ZnO thin film, ZnO nanowires and nanorods were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The NO₂ gas sensing properties of ZnO thin films, nanowires and nanorods were investigated in a dark chamber at 200 °C in the concentration range of 100 ppb-10 ppm. It was found that the response times of both ZnO thin films and ZnO nanorods were approximately 30 s, and the sensor response was depended on shape and size of ZnO nanostructures and electrode configurations.     

Indium oxide thin film based ammonia gas and ethanol vapour sensor

A sensor for ammonia gas and ethanol vapour has been fabricated using indium oxide thin film as sensing layer and indium tin oxide thin film encapsulated in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a miniature heater. For the fabrication of miniature heater indium tin oxide thin film was grown on special high temperature corning glass substrate by flash evaporation method. Gold was deposited on the film using thermal evaporation technique under high vacuum. The film was then annealed at 700 K for an hour. The thermocouple attached on sensing surface measures the appropriate operating temperature. The thin film gas sensor for ammonia was operated at different concentrations in the temperature range 323–493 K. At 473 K the sensitivity of the sensor was found to be saturate. The detrimental effect of humidity on ammonia sensing is removed by intermittent periodic heating of the sensor at the two temperatures 323K and 448 K, respectively. The indium oxide ethanol vapour sensor operated at fixed concentration of 400 ppm in the temperature range 293–393 K. Above 373 K, the sensor conductance was found to be saturate. With various thicknesses from 150–300 nm of indium oxide sensor there was no variation in the sensitivity measurements of ethanol vapour. The block diagram of circuits for detecting the ammonia gas and ethanol vapour has been included in this paper.     

花状ZnO超细结构的水热自组装

通过简单的水热合成路线,合成出由ZnO纳米棒束组装的花状结构.其组成结构单元ZnO纳米棒沿［001］晶向生长,呈很好的单晶结构.大部分纳米棒直径约为500nm,长约6.0μm.研究结果表明,在无水乙二胺存在的条件下,氨水（28%, v/v）在ZnO花状结构的形成过程中起到了至关重要的作用.调节氨水的含量,组成结构单元ZnO纳米棒可以组装成不同的花状结构.当加入氨水的量使得溶液的pH值达到10时,即可得到由ZnO纳米棒束组装成的花状结构,并简单讨论了这种花状结构的形状结构的形成机理. 