Ammonia gas sensor based on PPy/ZnSnO3 nanocomposites

In this paper. Zinc stannate (ZnSnO3) nanoparticles were synthesized by a sol-gel method. Then, polypyrrole (PPy)/ZnSnO3 nanocomposites were prepared by a simple in situ chemical polymerization method. By means of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy, the microstructure of PPy/ZnSnO3 nanocomposites was characterized. The XRD patterns indicate that ZnSnO3 nanoparticles have a perovskite phase with an orthorhombic structure, and incorporation of PPy did not change the crystalline structure of ZnSnO3. The PPy was evenly dispersed on the surface of ZnSnO3 particles, which was endorsed by FTIR spectral analyses. SEM images indicate that the PPy was evenly dispersed on the surface of ZnSnO3 particles without apparent agglomeration. We found that the nanocomposites exhibited a higher response to NH3 gas. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.