Hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanobelts and gas sensitivity property

The ZnO nanobelts were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The XRD spectrum indicates that the sample is wurtzite (hexagonal) structured ZnO with lattice constants of a = 3.249 angstrom, c = 5.206 angstrom. SEM and TEM images show the nanobelts to have lengths of 10-20 mu m, widths of 50-500 nm, thicknesses of about 30-60 nm, and growth direction of [0001]. Gas sensitivity experiments on ZnO nanobelts were carried out under different temperatures. The results indicated high sensitivities with an operating temperature of only 220 degrees C for the oxidative gas O-2, and 305 degrees C for the gas N-2. The mechanism of gas sensitive effects is analyzed in detail. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.