Nanocrystalline SnO2:F Thin Films for Liquid Petroleum Gas Sensors

This paper reports the improvement in the sensing performance of nanocrystalline SnO2-based liquid petroleum gas (LPG) sensors by doping with fluorine (F). Un-doped and F-doped tin oxide films were prepared on glass substrates by the dip-coating technique using a layer-by-layer deposition cycle (alternating between dip-coating a thin layer followed by a drying in air after each new layer). The results showed that this technique is superior to the conventional technique for both improving the film thickness uniformity and film transparency. The effect of F concentration on the structural, surface morphological and LPG sensing properties of the SnO2 films was investigated. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction pattern measurements showed that the obtained thin films are nanocrystalline SnO2 with nanoscale-textured surfaces. Gas sensing characteristics (sensor response and response/recovery time) of the SnO2:F sensors based on a planar interdigital structure were investigated at different operating temperatures and at different LPG concentrations. The addition of fluorine to SnO2 was found to be advantageous for efficient detection of LPG gases, e.g., F-doped sensors are more stable at a low operating temperature (300 °C) with higher sensor response and faster response/recovery time, compared to un-doped sensor materials. The sensors based on SnO2:F films could detect LPG even at a low level of 25% LEL, showing the possibility of using this transparent material for LPG leak detection

A printed and microfabricated sensor device for the sensitive low volume measurement of aqueous ammonia

The measurement of low concentrations of ammonia in small sample volumes is required in biological, biomedical and environmental measurement applications. However, achieving this without instrumentation remains challenging. Here, sensor devices for the measurement of ammonia in a liquid were developed. These were based on the fabrication of polyaniline nanoparticle films onto screen printed interdigitated electrodes using inkjet printing and their integration into a polymer microfabricated device with polytetrafluroethylene membrane and air flow path between the membrane and the sensor. Samples of ammonia in phosphate buffered saline of 52 mL were measured using electrochemical impedance. While water vapour and ions from the buffer did result in a decrease in sensor impedance, this was eradicated by displacementof the headspace above the sensor with air. This, in combination with the adjustment of the sample to pH to 11 allowed the quantification of ammonia from 0 to 200 mM with a limit of detection of 25 mM. The device has the potential to be used for sensitive, low volume measurement applications of ammonia at point-of-test and point-of-care

Synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes in rich hydrogen/air flames

We explore the production of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a stream surrounded by rich premixedlaminar H2/air flames using a feedstock containing ethanol and ferrocene. The as-produced nanomaterialswere characterised by Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopyand X-ray diffraction. A formation window of equivalence ratios of 1.00–1.20 was identified, and single-walledCNT bundles with individual CNTs of an average diameter of 1 nm were observed. The formation of CNTswas accompanied by the production of highly crystalline Fe3O4nanoparticles of a size of 20–100 nm. Theinvestigation of the limiting factors for the CNT synthesis was carried out systematically, assisted by numericalmodelling. We conclude that the key factors affecting CNT synthesis are the surrounding flame temperatures and the concentration of carbon available for CNT nucleation.N/

Carbon Nanotube Fabrication at Industrial Scale: Opportunities and Challenges

Careful research on different materials reveals that the material properties are mostly affected by the size of it. Material size down to nanometer scale exhibits some remarkable properties, resulting in unique physical and chemical characteristics. In todays world of nanotechnology, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have become a high priority material because of their exclusive structure, novel characteristics with enormous potential in many technological applications. Till date chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is the preferred and widely used technique among different CNT growth methods, because of its potential advantage to produce CNTs of high purity, large yield with ease of scale up and low setup cost. This article provides an overview of different CVD methods for industrial scale fabrication of CNTs. The influence of material aspect, viz. catalyst type, catalyst support, and growth control aspect, viz. process temperature, pressure, catalyst concentration, are discussed. Additionally, possible growth mechanisms concerning CNT formation are described. Finally, the key challenges of the process are addressed with future perspective.Comment: carbon nanotubes, chemical vapor depositio

Fast-LPG Sensors at Room Temperature by α-Fe2O3/CNT Nanocomposite Thin Films

We present performance of a room temperature LPG sensor based on α-Fe2O3/CNT (carbon nanotube) nanocomposite films. The nanocomposite film was fabricated via the metallic Fe catalyst particle on CNTs in which both the catalyst particles and the CNT were simultaneously synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) synthesis and were subsequently annealed in air to create α-Fe2O3. These methods are simple, inexpensive, and suitable for large-scale production. The structure, surface morphologies, and LPG response of nanocomposite films were investigated. Raman spectroscopy and XPS analysis showed the formation of α-Fe2O3 on small CNTs (SWNTs). Morphological analysis using FE-SEM and AFM revealed the formation of the porous surface along with roughness surface. Additionally, the sensing performance of α-Fe2O3/CNTs showed that it could detect LPG concentration at lower value than 25% of LEL with response/recovery time of less than 30 seconds at room temperature. These results suggest that the α-Fe2O3/CNTs films are challenging materials for monitoring LPG operating at room temperature

Ferrocene-ethanol-mist CVD Grown SWCNT Films as Transparent Electrodes

AbstractThe floating catalyst CVD using ferrocene–ethanol mist was successfully used to deposit single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films from the gaseous phase onto a Si substrate and a membrane filter. The home-built vertical mist-CVD system was used without the use of H2 or CO gases. The tiny mist was generated using a high-frequency ultrasonic vibration. The effects of various parameters including furnace temperature, ferrocene/ethanol ratio, the deposition position in the reactor, flow rate of carrier gas, and deposition time on the SWCNTs formation were investigated using SEM, TEM and Raman spectroscopy. The furnace temperature and the flow rate of carrier gas were found to determine the diameter and crystallinity of nanotubes. The ferrocene concentration in ethanol influenced the diameter distribution of nanotubes and the amount of impurity particles in the materials. The collected SWCNT films on a filter were directly transferred to a laminate sheet by using a hot press laminator. The properties of SWCNTs were investigated by UV-Vis spectrophotometer and four-point probe measurement. The high sheet resistance was observed for the as-transferred films. However, the initial results show that a sheet resistance of 10 kΩ/cm2 and an 80% transmittance at the wavelength of 550nm after nitric acid treatment