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Organometallic synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles for gas sensing: towards selectivity through nanoparticles morphology

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Abstract

ZnO nanoparticles (NP) with different morphologies such as nanorods (NR), isotropic NP, and cloud-like (CL) structures have been synthesized by an organometallic route. The prepared ZnO nanostructures have been deposited on miniaturized silicon gas sensor substrates by an inkjet method, and their responses to CO, C3H8, and NH3 gases have been studied at different operating temperatures (340–500 °C) and relative humidity of 50 %. It is noteworthy that the morphology of the nanostructure of the sensitive layer is maintained after thermal treatment. The morphology of ZnO NP significantly influences the sensor response level and their selectivity properties to reducing gases. Among the three different ZnO types, sensors prepared with NR show the highest response to both CO and C3H8. Sensors made of isotropic NP and CL structures show a lower but similar response to CO. From all investigated nanostructures, sensors made of CL structures show the weakest response to C3H8. With NH3 gas, no effect of the morphology of the ZnO sensitive layer has been evidenced. These different responses highlight the important role of the nanostructure of the ZnO sensitive layer and the nature of the target gas on the detection properties of the sensors.

Graphical Abstract

Three different ZnO nanoparticles morphologies (cloud-like, dots, rods) have been employed as sensitive layers in chemoresistive sensors for the selective detection of CO, C3H8 and NH3.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Région Midi Pyrénées, and PRES Université de Toulouse in the frame of the NELI (Nez Electronique Intégré) project. We also thank CNRS, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, and Alpha MOS SA for support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination (LCC), CNRS, 205 route de Narbonne, 31077, Toulouse Cedex 4, France

    Andrey Ryzhikov, Justyna Jońca, Myrtil Kahn, Katia Fajerwerg & Pierre Fau

  2. Université Toulouse III, Paul Sabatier, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 9, France

    Katia Fajerwerg, Philippe Ménini & Pierre Fau

  3. Laboratoire de Physique et de Chimie de Nano-objets (LPCNO), INSA, UPS, CNRS, 135 avenue de Rangueil, 31077, Toulouse, Cedex 4, France

    Bruno Chaudret

  4. Laboratoire d’Analyse et d’Architecture des Systèmes (LAAS), CNRS, 5 avenue du Colonel Roche, 31400, Toulouse, France

    Audrey Chapelle, Philippe Ménini & Chang Hyun Shim

  5. Alpha M.O.S. SA, 20 avenue Didier Daurat, 31400, Toulouse, France

    Chang Hyun Shim & Alain Gaudon

Authors
  1. Andrey Ryzhikov
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  2. Justyna Jońca
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  3. Myrtil Kahn
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  4. Katia Fajerwerg
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  5. Bruno Chaudret
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  8. Chang Hyun Shim
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  9. Alain Gaudon
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  10. Pierre Fau
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Correspondence to Pierre Fau.

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Ryzhikov, A., Jońca, J., Kahn, M. et al. Organometallic synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles for gas sensing: towards selectivity through nanoparticles morphology. J Nanopart Res 17, 280 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-015-3086-2

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