Controlled synthesis of ZnO hollow microspheres via precursor-template method and its gas sensing property

• Published in: Applied surface science 2012-09, Vol.258 (22), p.8431-8438
• Main Authors: Tian, Yu, Li, Jinchai, Xiong, Hui, Dai, Jiangnan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Ethanol sensing; Ethyl alcohol; Exact sciences and technology; Gas sensor; Gas sensors; Microspheres; Nanostructure; Operating temperature; Physics; Precursor template; Precursors; Scanning electron microscopy; Thermal evaporation; Zinc oxide; ZnO
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2011.12.090

[Display omitted] ► Zn powder as precursor template for synthesis ZnO hollow spheres. ► Different precursor templates result in different ZnO nanostructures. ► Different experimental conditions enable growth of different surface morphologies of ZnO sphere. ► ZnO hollow sphere materials have good gas sensing performance for detecting ethanol gas. Using Zn powder as precursor templates, ZnO hollow microspheres were successfully prepared by thermal evaporation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. It was found that different size and shape of precursor resulted in different ZnO nanostructures. When varying experimental conditions, such as air flow rate and working pressure, ZnO hollow spheres with different surface morphologies could be obtained. The advantages of the present synthetic technology are simple, relatively low cost, and high reproducibility. A gas sensor was fabricated from the as-prepared ZnO hollow microspheres and tested to the ethanol gas at different operating temperatures.