Effect of reaction parameters on WOx nanostructures by the solvothermal process

In this work, nanowires and nanorods of WOx have been synthesized by the solvothermal method. The effect of reaction time and acetic acid as solvent were studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed the monoclinic WO2.72, WO2.79, and orthorhombic WO3 crystalline structures. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and High-Resolution Transmission Electronic Microscopy (HRTEM) images presented nanostructures such as nanowires and nanorods at different sizes. Band gap energies were supplied by Ultra Violet visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra. The Photoluminescence (PL) spectra exhibited three emission peaks in the blue zone at 440, 460, and 484 nm. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was used to calculate W6+, W5+, and W4+ oxidation states. The results showed that increasing the reaction time from 10 h to 24 h affected the crystalline structure from monoclinic to orthorhombic. Moreover, with the addition of acetic acid as solvent, the crystal structure is not affected but stabilizes the monoclinic phase in the course of time

Photocatalytic and Antimicrobial Properties of Ga Doped and Ag Doped ZnO Nanorods for Water Treatment

Water contamination is a worldwide concerning problem. Emerging contaminants have made conventional water treatment processes ineffective. This makes the search for new materials with improved physical-chemical properties for water treatment an urgent necessity. Doping metal oxides nanostructures can improve the photocatalytic degradation of contaminants and the antimicrobial activity of the material. During this process, water treatment not only involves the degradation of toxic pollutants, but also the elimination of virus and bacteria. Then, it is important to study not only the effect of a dopant in a material as photocatalyst but also the effect in its antimicrobial properties. In this work ZnO nanorods, Ga doped ZnO nanorods and Ag doped ZnO nanorods are synthesized and supported in polyethylene by a fast-hydrothermal microwave heating synthesis. Their photocatalytic performance and antimicrobial properties for water treatment were evaluated. Experiments show that Ag and Ga can improve the photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties of ZnO nanorods; the relationship between doping concentrations, with both the toxicity effect of the nanorods toward bacteria and the nanorods photocatalytic performance, is shown

Single ZnO Nanowire-Based Gas Sensors to Detect Low Concentrations of Hydrogen

Low concentrations of hazardous gases are difficult to detect with common gas sensors. Using semiconductor nanostructures as a sensor element is an alternative. Single ZnO nanowire gas sensor devices were fabricated by manipulation and connection of a single nanowire into a four-electrode aluminum probe in situ in a dual-beam scanning electron microscope-focused ion beam with a manipulator and a gas injection system in/column. The electrical response of the manufactured devices shows response times up to 29 s for a 121 ppm of H2 pulse, with a variation in the nanowire resistance appreciable at room temperature and at 373.15 K of approximately 8% and 14% respectively, showing that ZnO nanowires are good candidates to detect low concentrations of H2