Synthesis Characterization of Nanostructured ZnCo2O4 with High Sensitivity to CO Gas

In this work, nanostructured ZnCo2O4 was synthesized via a microwave-assisted colloidal method, and its application as gas sensor for the detection of CO was studied. Typical diffraction peaks corresponding to the cubic ZnCo2O4 spinel structure were identified at calcination temperature of 500°C by X-ray powder diffraction. A high degree of porosity in the surface of the nanostructured powder of ZnCo2O4 was observed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, faceted nanoparticles with a pockmarked structure were clearly identified. The estimated average particle size was approximately 75 nm. The formation of ZnCo2O4 material was also confirmed by Raman characterization. Pellets fabricated with nanostructured powder of ZnCo2O4 were tested as sensors using CO gas at different concentrations and temperatures. A high sensitivity value of 305–300 ppm of CO was measured at 300°C, indicating that nanostructured ZnCo2O4 had a high performance in the detection of CO

Cu-Doped ZnO Thin Films Deposited by a Sol-Gel Process Using Two Copper Precursors: Gas-Sensing Performance in a Propane Atmosphere

A study on the propane gas-sensing properties of Cu-doped ZnO thin films is presented in this work. The films were deposited on glass substrates by sol-gel and dip coating methods, using zinc acetate as a zinc precursor, copper acetate and copper chloride as precursors for doping. For higher sensitivity values, two film thickness values are controlled by the six and eight dippings, whereas for doping, three dippings were used, irrespective of the Cu precursor. The film structure was analyzed by X-ray diffractometry, and the analysis of the surface morphology and film composition was made through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), respectively. The sensing properties of Cu-doped ZnO thin films were then characterized in a propane atmosphere, C3H8, at different concentration levels and different operation temperatures of 100, 200 and 300 °C. Cu-doped ZnO films doped with copper chloride presented the highest sensitivity of approximately 6 × 104, confirming a strong dependence on the dopant precursor type. The results obtained in this work show that the use of Cu as a dopant in ZnO films processed by sol-gel produces excellent catalysts for sensing C3H8 gas

Gas Sensing Properties of NiSb 2

Micro- and nanoparticles of NiSb2O6 were synthesized by the microwave-assisted colloidal method. Nickel nitrate, antimony chloride, ethylenediamine, and ethyl alcohol were used. The oxide was obtained at 600°C and was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, showing a trirutile-type structure with cell parameters a = 4.641 Å, c = 9.223 Å, and a space group P42/mnm (136). Average crystal size was estimated at ~31.19 nm, according to the XRD-peaks. The microstructure was scrutinized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), observing microrods measuring ~3.32 μm long and ~2.71 μm wide, and microspheres with an average diameter of ~8 μm; the size of the particles shaping the microspheres was measured in the range of ~0.22 to 1.8 μm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that nanoparticles were obtained with sizes in the range of 2 to 20 nm (~10.7 nm on average). Pellets made of oxide’s powders were tested in propane (C3H8) and carbon monoxide (CO) atmospheres at different concentrations and temperatures. The response of the material increased significantly as the temperature and the concentration of the test gases rose. These results show that NiSb2O6 may be a good candidate for gas sensing applications

Synthesis, characterization, and sensor applications of spinel ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles

"Spinel ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by means of the microwave-assisted colloidal method. A solution containing ethanol, Co-nitrate, Zn-nitrate, and dodecylamine was stirred for 24 h and evaporated by a microwave oven. The resulting solid material was dried at 200 °C and subsequently calcined at 500 °C for 5 h. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy, confirming the formation of spinel ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles with average sizes between 49 and 75 nm. It was found that the average particle size decreased when the dodecylamine concentration increased. Pellets containing ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles were fabricated and tested as sensors in carbon monoxide (CO) and propane (C3H8) gases at different concentrations and temperatures. Sensor performance tests revealed an extremely high response to 300 ppm of CO at an operating temperature of 200 °C.

Synthesis of ZnMn2O4 nanoparticles by a microwave-assisted colloidal method and their evaluation as a gas sensor of propane and carbon monoxide

"Spinel-type ZnMn2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized via a simple and inexpensive microwave-assisted colloidal route. Structural studies by X-ray diffraction showed that a spinel crystal phase of ZnMn2O4 was obtained at a calcination temperature of 500 °C, which was confirmed by Raman and UV-vis characterizations. Spinel-type ZnMn2O4 nanoparticles with a size of 41 nm were identified by transmission electron microscopy. Pellet-type sensors were fabricated using ZnMn2O4 nanoparticles as sensing material. Sensing measurements were performed by exposing the sensor to different concentrations of propane or carbon monoxide at temperatures in the range from 100 to 300 °C. Measurements performed at an operating temperature of 300 °C revealed a good response to 500 ppm of propane and 300 ppm of carbon monoxide. Hence, ZnMn2O4 nanoparticles possess a promising potential in the gas sensors field.