Synthesis of self-assembled 3D hollow microspheres of SnO2 with an enhanced gas sensing performance

Abstract In this paper, three-dimensional (3D) SnO2 hollow microspheres composed of numerous subunits of nanorods are prepared through a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. These SnO2 microspheres are structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscope, and high resolution transmission electron microscope, respectively. It is shown that the hierarchical SnO2 microspheres ranged from 600 to 900 nm in diameter are constructed from self-assembled one-dimensional tetragonal prism SnO2 nanorods. Most importantly, the gas sensor based on these hierarchical SnO2 microspheres exhibits excellent selectivity and fast response–recovery capability to ethanol. The response and recovery times are 2.6 s and 11 s, respectively, if the sensor is exposed to 50 ppm ethanol at the optimal operating temperature of 280 °C. The present study could offer potential applications in gas sensors.

[1]  L. Archer,et al.  Hollow Micro‐/Nanostructures: Synthesis and Applications , 2008 .

[2]  J. H. Lee,et al.  Gas sensors using hierarchical and hollow oxide nanostructures: Overview , 2009 .

[3]  Jun Zhang,et al.  Facile synthesis of highly ethanol-sensitive SnO2 nanoparticles , 2009 .

[4]  N. Yamazoe.  New approaches for improving semiconductor gas sensors , 1991 .

[5]  E. Samulski,et al.  Large-Scale, solution-phase growth of single-crystalline SnO2 nanorods. , 2004, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[6]  Y. L. Cao,et al.  Multilayered Nanocrystalline SnO2 Hollow Microspheres Synthesized by Chemically Induced Self-Assembly in the Hydrothermal Environment , 2007 .

[7]  Lili Wang,et al.  Synthesis of rattle-type SnO2 structures with porous shells , 2012 .

[8]  Jinping Liu,et al.  Solution-based growth and optical properties of self-assembled monocrystalline ZnO ellipsoids. , 2006, The journal of physical chemistry. B.

[9]  Xiangfeng Chu,et al.  Highly sensitive gas sensors based on hollow SnO2 spheres prepared by carbon sphere template method , 2007 .

[10]  Arie Zaban,et al.  Dye Sensitization of Nanocrystalline Tin Oxide by Perylene Derivatives , 1997 .

[11]  Kyuwon Kim,et al.  Room-temperature semiconductor gas sensor based on nonstoichiometric tungsten oxide nanorod film , 2005 .

[12]  Zhong Lin Wang,et al.  Mesoporous polyhedral cages and shells formed by textured self-assembly of ZnO nanocrystals. , 2003, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[13]  Zhigao Zhang,et al.  Oxidation−Crystallization Process of Colloids: An Effective Approach for the Morphology Controllable Synthesis of SnO2 Hollow Spheres and Rod Bundles , 2007 .

[14]  Zhihao Yuan,et al.  Facile synthesis of highly ethanol-sensitive SnO2 nanosheets using homogeneous precipitation method , 2010 .

[15]  Qing Peng,et al.  High ethanol sensitive SnO2 microspheres , 2006 .

[16]  M. Aegerter,et al.  Ultrafiltration conducting membranes and coatings from redispersable, nanoscaled, crystalline SnO2:Sb particles , 1999 .

[17]  Feng Huang,et al.  Fabrication and ethanol-sensing properties of micro gas sensor based on electrospun SnO2 nanofibers , 2008 .

[18]  K. Choi,et al.  Enhanced CO sensing characteristics of hierarchical and hollow In2O3 microspheres , 2009 .

[19]  Y. Shimizu,et al.  Variations in I-V characteristics of oxide semiconductors induced by oxidizing gases , 1996 .

[20]  Fan Hui,et al.  Preparation and Gas Sensitive Properties of ZnO-CuO Nanocomposites , 2008 .

[21]  Younan Xia,et al.  A solution-phase, precursor route to polycrystalline SnO2 nanowires that can be used for gas sensing under ambient conditions. , 2003, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[22]  Jiaqiang Xu,et al.  SnO2 nanorods and hollow spheres: Controlled synthesis and gas sensing properties , 2009 .

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

[24]  Jane F. Bertone,et al.  A lost-wax approach to monodisperse colloids and their crystals. , 2001, Science.

[25]  N. Yamazoe,et al.  Oxide Semiconductor Gas Sensors , 2003 .