Project description:SnO₂/graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) composites were synthesized via a facile solid-state method by using SnCl₄·5H₂O and urea as the precursor. The structure and morphology of the as-synthesized composites were characterized by the techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and N₂ sorption. The results indicated that the composites possessed a two-dimensional (2-D) structure, and the SnO₂ nanoparticles were highly dispersed on the surface of the g-C₃N₄ nanosheets. The gas-sensing performance of the samples to ethanol was tested, and the SnO₂/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposite-based sensor exhibited admirable properties. The response value (Ra/Rg) of the SnO₂/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposite with 10 wt % 2-D g-C₃N₄ content-based sensor to 500 ppm of ethanol was 550 at 300 °C. However, the response value of pure SnO₂ was only 320. The high surface area of SnO₂/g-C₃N₄-10 (140 m²·g-1) and the interaction between 2-D g-C₃N₄ and SnO₂ could strongly affect the gas-sensing property.
Project description:The SnO₂/g-C₃N₄ composites were synthesized via a facile calcination method by using SnCl₄·5H₂O and urea as the precursor. The structure and morphology of the as-synthesized composites were characterized by the techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD), the field-emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (FESEM and TEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), thermal gravity and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), and N₂-sorption. The analysis results indicated that the as-synthesized samples possess the two dimensional structure. Additionally, the SnO₂ nanoparticles were highly dispersed on the surface of the g-C₃N₄ nanosheets. The gas-sensing performance of the as-synthesized composites for different gases was tested. Moreover, the composite with 7 wt % g-C₃N₄ content (SnO₂/g-C₃N₄-7) exhibits an admirable gas-sensing property to ethanol, which possesses a higher response and better selectivity than that of the pure SnO2-based sensor. The high surface area of the SnO2/g-C3N4 composite and the good electronic characteristics of the two dimensional graphitic carbon nitride are in favor of the elevated gas-sensing property.
Project description:Highly sensitive graphene-based gas sensors can be made using large-area single layer graphene, but the cost of large-area pure graphene is high, making the simpler reduced graphene oxide (rGO) an attractive alternative. To use rGO for gas sensing, however, require a high active surface area and slightly different approach is needed. Here, we report on a simple method to produce kaolin-graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites and an application of this nanocomposite as a gas sensor. The nanocomposite was made by binding the GO flakes to kaolin with the help of 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). The GO flakes in the nanocomposite were contacting neighboring GO flakes as observed by electron microscopy. After thermal annealing, the nanocomposite become conductive as showed by sheet resistance measurements. Based on the conductance changes of the nanocomposite films, electrical gas sensing devices were made for detecting NH3 and HNO3. These devices had a higher sensitivity than thermally annealed multilayer GO films. This kaolin-GO nanocomposite might be useful in applications that require a low-cost material with large conductive surface area including the demonstrated gas sensors.
Project description:The dispersion of platinum (Pt) on metal oxide supports is important for catalytic and gas sensing applications. In this work, we used mechanochemical dispersion and compatible Fe(II) acetate, Sn(II) acetate and Pt(II) acetylacetonate powders to better disperse Pt in Fe2O3 and SnO2. The dispersion of platinum in SnO2 is significantly different from the dispersion of Pt over Fe2O3. Electron microscopy has shown that the elements Sn, O and Pt are homogeneously dispersed in α-SnO2 (cassiterite), indicating the formation of a (Pt,Sn)O2 solid solution. In contrast, platinum is dispersed in α-Fe2O3 (hematite) mainly in the form of isolated Pt nanoparticles despite the oxidative conditions during annealing. The size of the dispersed Pt nanoparticles over α-Fe2O3 can be controlled by changing the experimental conditions and is set to 2.2, 1.2 and 0.8 nm. The rather different Pt dispersion in α-SnO2 and α-Fe2O3 is due to the fact that Pt4+ can be stabilized in the α-SnO2 structure by replacing Sn4+ with Pt4+ in the crystal lattice, while the substitution of Fe3+ with Pt4+ is unfavorable and Pt4+ is mainly expelled from the lattice at the surface of α-Fe2O3 to form isolated platinum nanoparticles.
Project description:In this study, we report a synthetically simple donor-acceptor (D-A)-type organic solid-state emitter 1 that displays unique fluorescence switching under mechanical stimuli. Orange and yellow emissive crystals of 1 (1O, 1Y) exhibit an unusual "back and forth" fluorescence response to mechanical force. Gentle crushing (mild pressure) of the orange or yellow emissive crystal results in hypsochromic shift to cyan emissive fragments (λem = 498-501 nm) with a large wavelength shift Δλem = -71 to -96 nm, while further grinding results in bathochromic swing to green emissive powder λem = 540-550 nm, Δλem = +40 to 58 nm. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction study reveals that molecules are packed by weak interactions, such as C-H···π, C-H···N, and C-H···F, which facilitate intermolecular charge transfer in the crystal. With the aid of structural, spectroscopic, and morphological studies, we established the interplay between intermolecular and intramolecular charge-transfer interaction that is responsible for this elusive mechanochromic luminescence. Moreover, we have also demonstrated the application of this organic material for chlorine gas sensing in solid state.
Project description:Tin oxide nanorods (NRs) are vapour synthesised at relatively lower temperatures than previously reported and without the need for substrate pre-treatment, via a vapour-solid mechanism enabled using an aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition method. Results demonstrate that the growth of SnO2 NRs is promoted by a compression of the nucleation rate parallel to the substrate and a decrease of the energy barrier for growth perpendicular to the substrate, which are controlled via the deposition conditions. This method provides both single-step formation of the SnO2 NRs and their integration with silicon micromachined platforms, but also allows for in-situ functionalization of the NRs with gold nanoparticles via co-deposition with a gold precursor. The functional properties are demonstrated for gas sensing, with microsensors using functionalised NRs demonstrating enhanced sensing properties towards H2 compared to those based on non-functionalised NRs.
Project description:Graphene has attracted enormous attention owing to its extraordinary properties, while graphene-based nanocomposites hold promise for many applications. In this paper, we present a two-step exploitation method for preparation of graphene oxides and a facile solvothermal route for preparation of few-layer graphene nanosheets and graphene/WO₃ nanocomposites in an ethanol-distilled water medium. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and gas-sensing test. The resistivity of the thick-film gas sensors based on sandwich-like graphene/WO₃ nanocomposites can be controlled by varying the amount of graphene in the composites. Graphene/WO₃ nanocomposites with graphene content higher than 1% show fast response, high selectivity and fine sensitivity to NOx.
Project description:A sensor has been developed for detecting 1-nonanal gas present in the breath of lung cancer patients by combining SnO2 nanosheets with SnO2 nanoparticles and noble metal catalysts. A significant change in the electrical resistance of this sensor was observed with increasing 1-nonanal gas concentration; the resistance decreased by a factor of 1.12 within the range of 1 to 10 ppm at 300 °C. The recovery of the sensor's resistance after detecting 1-nonanal gas concentrations of 0.055, 0.18, 1, and 9.5 ppm was determined to be 86.1, 84.2, 80.4 and 69.2%, respectively. This high sensitivity is attributed to the accelerated oxidation of 1-nonanal molecules caused by the (101) crystal faces of the SnO2 nanosheets and should provide a simple and effective approach to the early detection of lung cancer.
Project description:In this study, a graphene-doped porous silicon (G-doped/p-Si) substrate for low ppm H₂ gas detection by an inexpensive synthesis route was proposed as a potential noble graphene-based gas sensor material, and to understand the sensing mechanism. The G-doped/p-Si gas sensor was synthesized by a simple capillary force-assisted solution dropping method on p-Si substrates, whose porosity was generated through an electrochemical etching process. G-doped/p-Si was fabricated with various graphene concentrations and exploited as a H₂ sensor that was operated at room temperature. The sensing mechanism of the sensor with/without graphene decoration on p-Si was proposed to elucidate the synergetic gas sensing effect that is generated from the interface between the graphene and p-type silicon.
Project description:As a typical mode of energy from waste, biogas technology is of great interest to researchers. To detect the trace H2S released from biogas, we herein demonstrate a high-performance sensor based on highly H2S-sensitive SnO2 nanocrystals, which have been selectively prepared by solvothermal methods using benzimidazole as a mineralization agent. The sensitivity of as-obtained SnO2 sensor towards 5 ppm H2S can reach up to 357. Such a technique based on SnO2 nanocrystals opens up a promising avenue for future practical applications in real-time monitoring a trace of H2S from the leakage of biogas.