Room temperature NO2 gas sensing properties of DBSA doped PPy–WO3 hybrid nanocomposite sensor

We demonstrate the chemiresistive NO₂ gas sensor based on DBSA doped PPy–WO₃ hybrid nanocomposites operating at room temperature. The sensor was fabricated on glass substrate using simple and cost effective drop casting method. The gas sensing performance of sensor was studied for various toxic/flammable analytes like NO₂, C₂H₅OH, CH₃OH, H₂S and NH₃. The sensor shows higher selectivity towards NO₂ gas with 72% response at 100 ppm. Also the sensor can successfully detect low concentration of NO₂ gas upto 5 ppm with reasonable response of 12%. Structural, morphological and compositional analyses evidenced the successful formation of DBSA doped PPy–WO₃ hybrid nanocomposite with uniform dispersion of DBSA into PPy–WO₃ hybrid nanocomposite and enhance the gas sensing behavior. We demonstrated that DBSA doped PPy–WO₃ hybrid nanocomposite sensor films shows excellent reproducibility, high stability, moderate response and recovery time for NO₂ gas in the concentration range of 5–100 ppm. A gas sensing mechanism based on the formation of random nano p–n junctions distributed over the surface of the sensor film has been proposed. In addition modulation of depletion width takes place in sensor on interaction with the target NO₂ gas has been depicted on the basis of schematic energy band diagram. Impedance spectroscopy was employed to study bulk, grain boundary resistance and capacitance before and after exposure of NO₂ gas. The structural and intermolecular interaction within the hybrid nanocomposites were explored by Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), while field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used to characterize surface morphology. The present method can be extended to fabricate other organic dopent-conducting polymer–metal oxide hybrid nanocomposite materials and could find better application in the gas sensing.     

Enhanced ammonia sensing characteristics of tungsten oxide decorated polyaniline hybrid nanocomposites

Polyaniline (PAni)-tungsten oxide (WO₃) hybrid nanocomposites sensor have been lucratively synthesized by in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization method by entrapping tungsten oxide nanoparticles (10–50%) in the polyaniline matrix on precleaned glass substrate. The structural, morphological and surface composition elucidation of PAni-WO₃ hybrid nanocomposites were explored by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The existence of WO₃ in PAni matrix and interaction between them was confirmed using XRD and Raman spectroscopy. The incorporation of WO₃ nanoparticles into the PAni matrix introduces porosity which enhanced gas sensing properties. The TEM image of PAni-WO₃ hybrid nanocomposite film exploded the average diameter of WO₃ nanoparticles ranging from 40 to 50 nm. Chemical composition of PAni-WO₃ hybrid nanocomposites was characterized by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In order to investigate the gas sensing parameter of PAni-WO₃ hybrid nanocomposite, hybrid nanocomposite film was exposed to different oxidizing gases (Cl₂, NO₂) and reducing gases (NH₃, H₂S, CH₃OH, C₂H₅OH) in range 5–100 ppm concentration of gas. It was observed that the sensors of PAni-WO₃ hybrid nanocomposites showed better sensitivity, selectivity, stability and reproducibility compared to pure PAni and pure WO₃. PAni-WO₃ (50%) hybrid nanocomposite sensor operating at room temperature reveals maximum response of 158% towards 100 ppm of NH₃ gas and also capable to respond very little concentration of 5 ppm NH₃ gas with reasonable response of 24%. The gas sensing mechanism of the nanocomposites in presence of air and with target NH₃ gas atmosphere was discussed in detail with the help of energy band diagram. The interaction of NH₃ and NO₂ gas with PAni-WO₃ hybrid nanocomposite sensor was investigated by employing an impedance spectroscopy also.     

Highly efficient Ceramic-SWCNT based free standing films for gas sensing application

This paper presents a method of preparation of ceramic-carbon nanotube nanocomposite films using a gel-cast technique to improve the sensitivity of the carbon nanotubes based gas sensor for toxic gases (NH₃, NO₂) to a sub-ppm levels. A detailed study is presented on nanocompostite synthesis, sensing mechanism and performance of free standing nanocomposites film. The method is simple, low cost, environment friendly and allows batch fabrication process. The film was prepared by a motor driven machine fitted with doctor׳s blade where single wall carbon nanotube(SWCNT) powder dispersed in sol–gel based alumina solution was poured and rolled out on Mylar tape at specific speed to have control on film thickness. Electron microscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray and Raman Spectroscopy were used to characterize the morphology and composition of prepared material. The proposed free standing nanocomposite film shows excellent and stable sensitivity to NH₃ and NO₂ molecules are 15% and 32% for 1 ppm respectively     

Polypyrrole, α-Fe2O3 and their hybrid nanocomposite sensor: An impedance spectroscopy study

Polypyrrole (PPy), α-Fe₂O₃ and their hybrid nanocomposites have been successfully prepared using chemical polymerization, sol–gel and solid state synthesis method respectively. Films of PPy, α-Fe₂O₃ and PPy/α-Fe₂O₃ nanocomposites were deposited on glass substrates using spin coating technique and characterized using FTIR, XPS, FESEM, TEM techniques as well as their gas sensing performance were studied towards NO₂ gas. FTIR and XPS study confirms the formation of PPy, α-Fe₂O₃ and PPy/α-Fe₂O₃ hybrid nanocomposites. FESEM studies revealed that, the films consists of porous granular type of morphology. TEM analysis revealed that the hybrid composite is in nano range. Impedance spectroscopy studies in presence of air and after exposure of NO₂ gas were carried out on PPy, α-Fe₂O₃ and PPy/α-Fe₂O₃ hybrid nanocomposite films in the frequency range of 20 Hz–10 MHz. Impedance spectroscopy results demonstrate that, the impedance is mainly contributed by the potential barrier at grain boundaries of the films. With the help of impedance spectroscopy results, sensing mechanism between PPy, α-Fe₂O₃ and PPy/α-Fe₂O₃ hybrid nanocomposite films and NO₂ gas molecules was studied and explored.     

Synthesis of Sn doped ZnO/TiO2 nanocomposite film and their application to H2 gas sensing properties

Tin doped Zinc oxide/Titanium oxide nanocomposite (TZO/TiO₂) was prepared by two methods: TiO₂ nanotube (Nt) arrays are grown by anodic oxidation of titanium foil and TZO films was deposited on the TiO₂ Nt obtained by hydrothermal process. The morphological characteristics and structures of ZnO/TiO₂ and TZO/TiO₂ were examined by (scanning elecron miscroscopy) SEM, (X rays diffraction) XRD and (energy dispersive spectroscopy) EDS analysis. The diameter of TiO₂ Nts was ranged from 40 nm to 90 nm with wall thicknesses of approximately 10 nm. The anatase structure of Titania, the hexagonal Zincite crystal of zinc oxide and tetragonal structure of tin oxide were identified by XRD. EDS analysis revealed the presence of O, Zn, Ti and Sn elements in the obtained deposits.These nanocomposites have been used as active layer in hydrogen gas sensing application. The hydrogen sensing characteristics of the sensor was analyzed by measuring the sensor responses in the temperature of 100 °C and 160 °C. The highest gas response is approximately 1.48 at 160 °C.The sensing mechanism of the nanocomposite sensor was explained in terms of H₂ chimisorption on the highly active nanotube surface.     

Effects of reaction time on the morphological,structural, and gas sensing properties of ZnO nanostructures

Morphological transformation was achieved from ZnO hexagonal needle-like rods to hexagonal flower-like rods by varying the reaction growth time using the hydrothermal method. Optical bandgap energies were calculated from the absorption spectra using UV‐vis spectroscopy. Gas sensing properties of flower-like hexagonal ZnO structures at 50 ppm for ethanol (C₂H₅OH) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) at different temperatures were analyzed. The sensor showed a higher response toward C₂H₅OH than NO₂ gas at 350 °C.     

Detection of H2S,SO2, and NO2 using electrostatic sprayed tungsten oxide films

This paper presents the electrostatic spray deposition of tungsten oxide (WO₃) films for the detection of different pollutant gases. The influence of several types of precursors on the structure and morphology of the films was studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. This preliminary study allowed to select the proper precursor for the preparation of pure and porous WO₃ films which offer high gas response (R_air/R_gas=1200) to low concentrations of H₂S (10 ppm) at low operating temperature (200 °C). The gas response to NO₂ and SO₂ is low at this temperature suggesting no possible interference with these two gases during the H₂S detection. Furthermore, the films are able to detect very low concentrations of NO₂ (less than 1 ppm) at 150 °C.     

A systematic study of the impact of etching time to the sensitivity of SiNW sensor fabricated by MACEtch process

In this paper, silicon nanowires (SiNWs) was fabricated by a combination of metal-assisted chemical etching (MACEtch) and nanosphere lithography. We get the silicon nanowires with different specific surface area by changing the etching time. The microscopic structure of the silicon nanowires is observed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The gas sensing performances of the SiNWs with different specific surface area have been systematically examined by measuring the resistance change towards the concentrations of NO₂ in the range of 1–5 ppm at room temperature (RT, 300 K), the gas sensor composed of SiNWs showed perfect gas sensitive property and possessed a short response–recovery time. The main reason of these excellent attributes is quite likely that high specific surface area of the SiNWs, and NO₂ sensing mechanism of the SiNWs was also further explained, which can be attributed to the oxygen in the air and detected NO₂ extract electrons from the surface of the SiNWs, and the resistivity of SiNWs changed with the changing of space-charge layer under the of SiNWs surface.     

Poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) doped polypyrrole/tungsten oxide/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite films based surface acoustic wave sensors for NO sensing behavior

Poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) (PSSA) doped polypyrrole (PPy)/tungsten oxide (WO₃)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrid nanocomposite have been successfully synthesized using appropriate amounts of PSSA, pyrrole monomer, WO₃, and rGO dispersed in aqueous solution through in situ chemical oxidation polymerization. Here, a simple spin coating method was used to fabricate a nitric oxide (NO) gas sensor composed of the aforementioned nanocomposite on a surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator. This sensor can detect NO gas at concentrations of 1–110 parts per billion (ppb) at room temperature in dry air, with a sensitivity of 12 Hz/ppb and response and recovery times of <2 min. Moreover, its limit of detection (LOD) is 0.31 ppb for a signal to noise ratio of 3. It demonstrates repeatability, fast response, and recovery at room temperature. Moreover, its sensory performance remains highly stable over 30 days with only a 6.3% decrease in sensitivity. In addition, the sensor is highly selective for NO, even when nitrogen dioxide, ammonia, and carbon dioxide are applied as interfering gases. The inclusion of rGO (with large specific surface area) and the synergic effect of n-type WO₃ nanoparticles in the p-type PPy matrix (leading to p-n heterojunction region formation) possibly underlie the efficient sensing performance of our sensor.     

Preparation and gas sensitivity of WO3 hollow microspheres and SnO2 doped heterojunction sensors

Dispersed tungsten trioxide (WO₃) microsphere aggregates were prepared by chemical reduction with hydrazine hydrate in a glycol–water system, and the composites of WO₃/tin oxide (SnO₂) with different SnO₂ weight fractions were prepared by microwave refluxing. The products were characterized by x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. The gas-sensing characteristics based on the composites were investigated by a stationary-state gas distribution method. The results show that the noncompact WO₃ microspheres with hollow structure were obtained. The phase composition and the morphology of WO₃ were changed by SnO₂ doping. The heterojunction structure was formed between WO₃ and SnO₂, and the heterojunction sensors have high sensitivity to H₂S, NO_X, and xylene at relatively lower operating temperature, especially the sensor doped by 3% SnO₂ operating just at 90 °C for H₂S gas.     

Synthesis and characterization of CuO–SnO2 nanocomposite and its application as liquefied petroleum gas sensor

Present paper reports the synthesis of CuO–SnO₂ nanocomposite via sol–gel route as a sensing material for a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of CuO–SnO₂ nanocomposite. Crystallite size was found 5 nm. The optical band gap of the nanocomposite was found 4.1 eV. The thin/thick films were fabricated using spin coating and screen printing technology respectively and investigated with the exposition of LPG at room temperature (25 °C). Surface morphology of the thin film exhibits that it has a number of gas adsorption sites. The sensitivities of the thick and thin film sensors were found 4.1 and 42 respectively. The response and recovery times of the fabricated film sensor were 180 and 200 s respectively. Maximum sensor response of thin film sensor was found 4100. Better sensitivity and percentage sensor response, small response and recovery times, and good reproducibility and stability recognize the fabricated thin film of CuO–SnO₂ as a challenging material for the detection of LPG.     

Optical and electrochemical gas sensing properties of yttrium–silver co-doped lithium iron phosphate thin films

The new sensing material, LiFe_0.995Y_0.0025Ag_0.0025PO₄ was synthesized using hydro-thermal methods, and characterized by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The as prepared products were subsequently utilized in a self assembled optical waveguide gases testing apparatus and a WS-30A electro-chemical gas sensing apparatus for xylene detection. A glass optical waveguide gas sensor was fabricated by spin-coating a LiFe_0.995Y_0.0025Ag_0.0025PO₄ thin film on the surface of single-mode tin-diffused glass Optical Waveguide. The sensing elements for electro-chemical gas sensor were made by dip-coating a LiFe_0.995Y_0.0025Ag_0.0025PO₄ thin film on the surface of an alumina ceramic tube, assembled with platinum wire. The experimental results indicated that, at room temperature, LiFe_0.995Y_0.0025Ag_0.0025PO₄ thin film/tin-diffused optical waveguide sensing element exhibited higher response to xylene in the range of 0.1–100 ppm; at an optimum operating temperature (300 °C), the response (S_r) of LiFe_0.995Y_0.0025Ag_0.0025PO₄ to 100 ppm of xylene was 5.29, as measured by the WS-30A electro-chemical gases sensing apparatus.     

Response time and mechanism of Pd modified TiO2 gas sensor

In this work, gas response properties of Pd modified TiO₂ sensing films are discussed when exposed to H₂ and O₂. TiO₂ films are surface modified in PdCl₂-containing solution by the dipping method and treated for different treatment times to get different surface states. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Kröger–Vink defect theory are used to characterize the sensing films. The gas response properties indicate that the sensor response time which related to the rate of change of sensor resistance is affected by the activation energy (E). In particular, the sensor treated at 900 °C for 2 h exhibits a response time of about 20–240 ms when exposed to H₂ and 40–130 ms when exposed to O₂ at 500–800 °C.     

纳米氧化钨薄膜改性的大孔硅气敏传感器

通过双槽电化学腐蚀法在P型单晶硅表面制备了大孔硅。然后通过直流对靶反应磁控溅射法在大孔硅表面淀积了纳米氧化钨薄膜。使用场发射扫描电子显微镜（FESEM）观察大孔硅和氧化钨/大孔硅样品的形貌。分别使用X射线衍射（XRD）图谱和X射线光电子能谱（XPS）分析氧化钨晶体结构和钨的化合价。在室温下测试大孔硅和氧化钨/大孔硅气敏传感器的气敏特性。结果表明：氧化钨/大孔硅气敏传感器表现出了P型半导体气敏传感器的气敏特性。它对1ppm的二氧化氮显示了良好的恢复特性和重复性。氧化钨/大孔硅气敏传感器的长期稳定性要好于大孔硅气敏传感器。氧化钨的添加提高了大孔硅气敏传感器对二氧化氮的灵敏度。氧化钨/大孔硅气敏传感器对于二氧化氮的灵敏度要高于其对氨气和乙醇的灵敏度。通过淀积纳米氧化钨薄膜,改善了大孔硅对二氧化氮的选择性。     

Effect of Bi doping on structural,morphological, optical and ethanol vapor response properties of SnO2 nanoparticles

The gas sensing behavior of thick films of Bi doped SnO₂ has been investigated towards ethanol vapor. The screen printing technique was used to prepare the thick films. The films were sintered at 650 °C for 2 h. The structural, surface morphological, optical and gas sensing properties of undoped and Bi doped SnO₂ thick films have been studied. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the films consisted exclusively of tetragonal tin oxide, without any impurity phases. FE-SEM studies revealed the formation of highly porous microstructure with grain size in few tens of nanometers. From the optical studies, the band gap was found to be decreased with bismuth doping (3.96 eV for undoped, 3.83 eV, 3.71 eV and 3.6 eV for 1 mol%, 2 mol% and 3 mol% Bi, respectively). The 3 mol % Bi doped SnO₂ thick films exhibited the highest sensitivity to 100 ppm of ethanol vapor at 300 °C. The effect of microstructure on sensitivity, response time and recovery time of the sensor was studied and discussed.     

Study of sensitivity and selectivity of α-Fe2O3 thin films for different toxic gases and alcohols

This paper presents a detailed study on the sensitivity and selectivity of α-Fe₂O₃ thin films produced by deposition of Fe and post-deposition annealed at two temperatures of 600 °C and 800 °C with flow of oxygen for application as a sensor for toxic gases including CO, H₂S, NH₃ and NO₂ and alcohols such as C₃H₇OH, CH₃OH, and C₂H₅OH. The crystallographic structure of the samples was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) method while an atomic force microscope (AFM) was employed for surface morphology investigation. The electrical response of the films was measured while they were exposed to various toxic gases and alcohols in the temperature range of 50–300 °C. The sample annealed at higher temperature showed higher response for different gases and alcohols tested in this work which can be due to the higher resistance of this sample. Results also indicated that the α-Fe₂O₃ thin films show higher selectivity to NO₂ gas relative to the other gases and alcohols while the best sensitivity is obtained at 200 °C. The α-Fe₂O₃ thin film post-deposition annealed at 800 °C also showed a good stability and reproducibility and a detection limit of 10 ppm for NO₂ gas at the operating temperature of 200 °C.     

Fiber optic gas sensor with nanocrystalline ZnO

A fiber optic gas sensor with a PMMA fiber whose clad is modified with chemically sensitive nano-crystalline zinc oxide has been developed and investigated to detect acetone, isopropyl alcohol and benzene gases. The spectral characteristics of the sensor were recorded for different concentrations ranging from (0–500 ppm) for these gases both with as-prepared and annealed nanocrystalline ZnO, and the influence of annealing on the gas sensing has been studied.The response time and recovery time were found to be 48 min. and 42 min. respectively for 500 ppm concentration.     

Room temperature ammonia sensor based on jaw like bis-porphyrin molecules

A jaw-like bis-porphyrin (bis-TPP) molecule was synthesized anchoring of two porphyrin molecules to a benzene ring at the meta positions through the ester linkage. The bis-TPP molecule and its zinc-derivative (Zn-bis-TPP) were spin-coated on glass surfaces to construct two chemiresistive room temperature NH₃ gas sensors. Both the films showed high selectivity, reproducibility and reversibility in sensing NH₃ gas (5–40 ppm) in air. The sensing characteristics of the Zn-bis-TPP films (response (2 s) and recovery (2.5 min) times; linear response (952%)) were better than that of the bis-TPP films (response (8 s) and recovery (7.5 min) times; linear response (131%)). This is attributed to the amorphous nature of the former.     

Selective hydrogen sulfide (H2S) sensors based on molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) nanoparticle decorated reduced graphene oxide

This paper investigates a selective method of sensing hydrogen sulfide using molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) nanoparticle decorated graphene oxide (GO). Reduced graphene oxide was synthesized from natural graphite (NG) by the modified Hummer׳s method and decorated with the MoO₃ nanoparticles. Sensors were fabricated by the spin coating of MoO₃-decorated rGO between Pt electrodes on alumina substrate (Al₂O₃). In comparison with pristine rGO sensor, the MoO₃–rGO chemiresistors have a clear response to hydrogen sulfide down to 50 ppm at 70 °C. Thermal characterization of the sensor is studied. Results show that the fabricated devices have the maximum gas response at about 160 °C. Selectivity tests indicated that these sensors have poor respond to interfering analytes such as ethanol, carbon monoxide and nitric oxide. Furthermore, the effect of MoO₃ content and graphene oxide suspension concentration on the sensor response is investigated. Hereby it is shown that the sensor content of 3 wt% MoO₃ and of 5 mg/ml of GO suspension concentration has the highest sensitivity. Decorated reduced graphene oxide chemiresistors offer advantages such as remarkable potential for mass production due to their ease of manufacturing, good performance, and significant selectivity.     

Preparation and characterization of conductive polypyrrole/kaolinite composites

Conductive polypyrrole (PPy)/kaolinite clay composites were prepared by in situ chemical polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of kaolinite using FeCl₃ as oxidant. The PPy content and conductivity of the composites reached 32.8% and 8.3×10^?2 S/cm at HCl concentrations of 1.5 M and 0.5 M, respectively. The microhardness of the composites containing different amounts of PPy was higher than that of the PPy and kaolinite components. The highest microhardness observed was 30.17 kg/mm² for the composite containing 9.6% PPy. The electrical resistance of the composites was monitored during heating–cooling cycles over the range 5–120 °C. The change in resistance with temperature was more repeatable for the composite than for PPy. The composites were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The humidity-sensing properties were also examined.