Micro-spherical ZnSnO3 material prepared by microwave-assisted method and its ethanol sensing properties

Monodispersed ZnSnO3 microspheres are successfully prepared via a facile microwave-assisted method together with subsequently calcination treatment. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) results indicate that the structure of the products shifted from crystalline to amorphous under high-temperature treatments. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and the transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations demonstrate that the as-obtained products are composed of uniform microspheres with rough surfaces and the mean diameter is measured as similar to 700 nm. Moreover, the morphology of ZnSnO3 microspheres can be well controlled by adjusting the ratio of Zn2+ and Sn4+. The gas sensing properties of ZnSnO3 microspheres with different ratios of Zn2+/Sn4+ are investigated. Our results indicate that the ZnSnO3 microspheres exhibit good selectivity and high sensitivity towards ethanol at the optimum working temperature of 230 degrees C. When the sensor is exposed 50 ppm ethanol, the value of response is 47 and the response/recovery times are 11 s and 12 s, respectively. (C) 2020 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.