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Controllable synthesis of Sn:ZnO/SnO2 nanorods: pH-dependent growth for an ethanol gas sensor

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Abstract

Tin-doped zinc oxide/tin oxide nanorod (Sn:ZnO/SnO2 NR) films were successfully synthesized using a solution immersion method by manipulating the pH concentration of the solutions to fabricate an ethanol gas sensor. Sn:ZnO/SnO2 NR films were prepared at constant Sn:ZnO solution pH (5.5), while the pH of the SnO2 solutions was varied between 4.5 and 6.5. In this study, the structural, morphological, and optical properties of Sn:ZnO/SnO2 NR films were investigated. The diameter and thickness of Sn:ZnO/SnO2 NR films were found to increase with the SnO2 pH. Interestingly, the Sn:ZnO/SnO2 NR sample that was prepared at SnO2 solution pH 5.5 showed the highest relative peak intensity along the c-axis plane orientation, which enhanced the sensor performance due to the shorter carrier pathway. In addition, this sample indicated a higher level of surface donor-related defects, which are favorable for sensing device performance. The samples were exposed to ethanol gas to measure their gas-sensing properties. Sn:ZnO/SnO2 NR films prepared at SnO2 solution pH 5.5 showed the highest sensing performance with short response/recovery times.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Grant No. FRGS/600-IRMI/FRGS 5/3 (264/2019). The authors would like to thank the Research Management Institute (RMI), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), and Ministry of Higher Education Ministry (MoHE), Malaysia, for the financial support. The authors thank Mrs. Ts. Irmaizatussyehdany Buniyamin (Senior Research Officer), Mr. Ts. Salifairus Mohammad Jafar (UiTM Senior Science Officer), Mr. Mohd Azlan Jaafar (UiTM assistant engineer), Mr. Suhaimi Ahmad (UiTM assistant engineer), and Mr. Muhamad Faizal Abd Halim (Assistant Research Officer) for their kind support on this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA Pahang, 26400, Bandar Tun Razak Jengka, Pahang, Malaysia

    R. Mohamed & H. A. Rafaie

  2. NANO-SciTech Centre (NST), Institute of Science (IOS), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

    R. Mohamed, M. H. Mamat, M. F. Malek & M. Rusop

  3. NANO-ElecTronic Centre (NET), Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

    M. H. Mamat, A. S. Ismail & M. Rusop

  4. Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

    M. F. Malek

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Mohamed, R., Mamat, M.H., Malek, M.F. et al. Controllable synthesis of Sn:ZnO/SnO2 nanorods: pH-dependent growth for an ethanol gas sensor. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 31, 15394–15406 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-04103-1

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