Automated nebulizer sprayed tin doped titanium dioxide (SnxTi1-xO2) anatase nanofilms properties, gas sensing performance

• Published in: Materials chemistry and physics 2017-09, Vol.199, p.113-121
• Main Authors: Gopala Krishnan, V., Elango, P., Purushothaman, A., Chandra Bose, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anatase; Automated nebulizer spray pyrolysis; Band gap; Ethanol; Gas sensing performance; Gas sensors; Glass substrates; Optical properties; Polycrystals; Sensitivity; Spray pyrolysis; Structural properties; Thickness; Tin; Titanium dioxide; Titanium nitride; Titanium oxides; Transmittance; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0254-0584; 1879-3312
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2017.06.052

SnxTi1-xO2 nanofilms deposited at 500 °C heated glass substrate by automated nebulizer spray pyrolysis method. Stabilized anatase phase of polycrystalline nature with decremented intensity were observed in XRD study, correspondingly precursor materials (Ti, Sn, O) were confirmed by XPS, EDS. The surface profilometer shows a coated films thickness and the surface morphology illustrates a various structure such as granular spherical shape, micro grain petal-like structure, a granular structure with wider petals (stripe likes) and void, crack less agglomerated grain particles were acquired with respect to Sn concentration. An optical study shows the maximum oscillating nature of transmittance is 66.8% (at = 524.4 nm) for Sn = 10.00% and the resultant transmittance values were enhanced and their sharp absorption edge shows blue shift by increase Sn concentration. Similarly, band gap values (Eg = 3.20 eV–3.56 eV) were increased due to Moss-Burstein shift. Notably, gas sensing performance of SnxTi1-xO2 shows the highest sensitivity behaviour to Sn = 5.00% (Y0.05Ti0.95O2) for reducing gas of C2H6O at 150 °C with 300 ppm gas concentration. All coated films exhibit the better sensitivity for ethanol (C2H6O) gas against other gases (CH4O, C3H8O, NH3, and C3H6O). [Display omitted] •Sn-TiO2 exhibits anatase tetragonal phase of polycrystalline nature.•Surface thickness, morphology changed with respect to Sn concentration.•Sharp absorption edge were decreased and the band gap increased due to Sn.•Sn = 5.00% illustrate better sensitivity to C2H6O among the others concentration and reducing gases.