Ordered mesoporous Ag-doped TiO2/SnO2 nanocomposite based highly sensitive and selective VOC sensors

Hybrid mesoporous metal oxides show promising attributes in the field of relative gas sensors due to the combined opportunities provided by the high specific surface area and framework components. In this study, we present the synthesis of Ag-doped ordered mesoporous tin(IV) oxide–titanium(IV) oxide nanohybrids using a sequential combination of a wet impregnation and nanocasting process and demonstrate the response by exposing the mesoporous nanohybrids to ethanol gas. HRTEM and N2 adsorption–desorption results indicate that the nanohybrids prepared by nanocasting of SBA-15 as the hard template possess an ordered mesoporous structure and high surface area. It was also observed that the mesoporous Ag-(TiO2/SnO2) shows excellent response towards ethanol with concentrations ranging from 1 ppm to 500 ppm. Besides, the nanohybrid mesoporous sensor shows high selectivity towards other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including acetone, methanol, isopropanol, benzyl alcohol and ethyl acetate. All the results indicated that the nanocast mesoporous Ag-(TiO2/SnO2) nanohybrids have great potential for applications in designing high performance practical ethanol sensors.

[1]  Nguyen Duc Hoa,et al.  Design of SnO2/ZnO hierarchical nanostructures for enhanced ethanol gas-sensing performance , 2012 .

[2]  E. Teller,et al.  ADSORPTION OF GASES IN MULTIMOLECULAR LAYERS , 1938 .

[3]  S. Phanichphant,et al.  Rapid ethanol sensor based on electrolytically-exfoliated graphene-loaded flame-made In-doped SnO2 composite film , 2015 .

[4]  Wei Zhao,et al.  Preparation of porous flower-like SnO2 micro/nano structures and their enhanced gas sensing property , 2015 .

[5]  Vijay K. Tomer,et al.  A facile nanocasting synthesis of mesoporous Ag-doped SnO2 nanostructures with enhanced humidity sensing performance , 2016 .

[6]  Vijay K. Tomer,et al.  Fast response with high performance humidity sensing of Ag–SnO2/SBA-15 nanohybrid sensors , 2016 .

[7]  Shuyi Ma,et al.  Synthesis of SnO2–ZnO heterostructured nanofibers for enhanced ethanol gas-sensing performance , 2015 .

[8]  Sumita Santra,et al.  Hierarchical nanostructured WO3-SnO2 for selective sensing of volatile organic compounds. , 2015, Nanoscale.

[9]  Hongwei Song,et al.  ZnO–SnO2 nanotubes surface engineered by Ag nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, and highly enhanced HCHO gas sensing properties , 2013 .

[10]  Zheng Lou,et al.  Facile synthesis and enhanced ethanol sensing properties of the brush-like ZnO–TiO2 heterojunctions nanofibers , 2013 .

[11]  Julian King,et al.  Blood and breath levels of selected volatile organic compounds in healthy volunteers. , 2013, The Analyst.

[12]  Samit K. Ray,et al.  Enhanced sensitivity and selectivity of brush-like SnO2 nanowire/ZnO nanorod heterostructure based sensors for volatile organic compounds , 2014 .

[13]  Ryutaro Maeda,et al.  Sensing of Vaporous Organic Compounds by TiO2 Porous Films Covered with Polythiophene Layers , 2012 .

[14]  Zhongchang Wang,et al.  Enhanced gas sensing properties by SnO2 nanosphere functionalized TiO2 nanobelts , 2012 .

[15]  J. Shim,et al.  Preparation of porous SnO2 microcubes and their enhanced gas-sensing property , 2015 .

[16]  Jing Zhao,et al.  Ordered mesoporous Pd/SnO2 synthesized by a nanocasting route for high hydrogen sensing performance , 2011 .

[17]  Q. Li,et al.  Ultrasensitive ethanol sensor based on 3D aloe-like SnO2 , 2012 .

[18]  Vijay K. Tomer,et al.  Highly sensitive and stable relative humidity sensors based on WO3 modified mesoporous silica , 2015 .

[19]  Thorsten Wagner,et al.  Nanostructured Co3O4 as a CO gas sensor: Temperature-dependent behavior , 2015 .

[20]  Da Chen,et al.  Tuning Photoelectrochemical Performances of Ag−TiO2 Nanocomposites via Reduction/Oxidation of Ag , 2008 .

[21]  Jian Jiang,et al.  Carbon-assisted synthesis of mesoporous SnO2 nanomaterial as highly sensitive ethanol gas sensor , 2013 .

[22]  Teng Fei,et al.  Synthesis and ethanol sensing properties of SnO2 nanosheets via a simple hydrothermal route , 2012 .

[23]  G. Armatas,et al.  Ordered mesoporous V2O5/WO3 composite catalysts for efficient oxidation of aryl alcohols , 2014 .

[24]  Tong Zhang,et al.  Enhanced toluene sensing characteristics of TiO2-doped flowerlike ZnO nanostructures , 2009 .

[25]  Zhengping Fu,et al.  Synthesis of Ag/ZnO nanorods array with enhanced photocatalytic performance. , 2010, Journal of hazardous materials.

[26]  E. Barrett,et al.  (CONTRIBUTION FROM THE MULTIPLE FELLOWSHIP OF BAUGH AND SONS COMPANY, MELLOX INSTITUTE) The Determination of Pore Volume and Area Distributions in Porous Substances. I. Computations from Nitrogen Isotherms , 1951 .

[27]  Bin Du,et al.  A highly sensitive gas sensor based on Pd-doped Fe3O4 nanoparticles for volatile organic compounds detection , 2014 .

[28]  Yanshuang Wang,et al.  Synthesis of hierarchical SnO2 nanostructures assembled with nanosheets and their improved gas sensing properties , 2013 .

[29]  H. Amenitsch,et al.  Nanocasted mesoporous nanocrystalline ZnO thin films , 2010 .

[30]  Wei Xia,et al.  Ordered mesoporous NiO with thin pore walls and its enhanced sensing performance for formaldehyde. , 2015, Nanoscale.

[31]  Peng Sun,et al.  Hierarchical Assembly of α-Fe₂O₃ Nanosheets on SnO2₂Hollow Nanospheres with Enhanced Ethanol Sensing Properties. , 2015, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[32]  K. Zakrzewska,et al.  Nanocrystalline TiO2/SnO2 composites for gas sensors , 2012, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry.

[33]  A. Mazzatenta,et al.  Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) fingerprint of Alzheimer's disease , 2015, Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology.

[34]  Lichun Zhang,et al.  One-step facile synthesis of coral-like Zn-doped SnO2 and its cataluminescence sensing of 2-butanone , 2015 .

[35]  Y. Dzenis,et al.  Highly efficient rapid ethanol sensing based on Co-doped In₂O₃ nanowires. , 2011, Talanta.

[36]  F. Caldararu,et al.  Monitoring of volatile organic compounds using a single tin dioxide sensor. , 2012, Journal of environmental monitoring : JEM.

[37]  Ming Zhuo,et al.  Superior ethanol-sensing properties based on Ni-doped SnO2 p–n heterojunction hollow spheres , 2012 .

[38]  Vijay K. Tomer,et al.  Nano titania loaded mesoporous silica: Preparation and application as high performance humidity sensor , 2015 .

[39]  Yu Ren,et al.  Ordered mesoporous metal oxides: synthesis and applications. , 2012, Chemical Society reviews.

[40]  Vijay K. Tomer,et al.  Humidity‐Sensing Properties of Ag0 Nanoparticles Supported on WO3‐SiO2 with Super Rapid Response and Excellent Stability , 2015 .

[41]  Quanqin Zhao,et al.  Selective epichlorohydrin-sensing performance of Ag nanoparticles decorated porous SnO2 architectures , 2014 .

[42]  G. Lu,et al.  Synthesis and gas sensing properties of hierarchical SnO2 nanostructures , 2013 .

[43]  Hao He,et al.  Enhanced ethanol sensing properties of Zn-doped SnO2 porous hollow microspheres , 2012 .

[44]  Zheng Guo,et al.  Novel cocoon-like Au/La2O3 nanomaterials: synthesis and their ultra-enhanced cataluminescence performance to volatile organic compounds , 2011 .