Effect of Composition and Morphology on Sensor Properties of Aerosol Deposited Nanostructured ZnO+In<SUB>2</SUB> O<SUB>3</SUB> Films — Oak Academic Publishing
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Effect of Composition and Morphology on Sensor Properties of Aerosol Deposited Nanostructured ZnO+In<SUB>2</SUB> O<SUB>3</SUB> Films
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Moscow, Russia
,
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
,
Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
,
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
1 Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Moscow, Russia
2 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
3 Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
4 Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
The structural characteristics are investigated of nanoheterogeneous films comprising ZnO, In 2 O 3 and ZnO + In 2 O 3 composite produced by aerosol spray pyrolysis technique (SPT). The process utilizes water solutions of zinc chloride and indium nitrate precursors. The X-ray diffraction data show that the SPT process results in polycrystalline films of hexagonal wurtzite type ZnO, and In 2 O 3 crystals of cubic structure. SPT-synthesized ZnO + In 2 O 3 composites contain mixtures of these crystals. The morphology of the synthesized films is studied by scanning electron microscopy as well as the dependence of morphology on the synthesis conditions, specifically the temperature of the aerosol precipitation and the concentration of the precursors in solutions. The characteristics of nucleation and growth of oxide crystals during the synthesis of ZnO + In 2 O 3 composite films are also considered. The film with the composition 25 wt% ZnO + 75 wt% In 2 O 3 contains a large number of small crystal aggregates of arbitrary shape with a high density of contacts between the aggregates and are characterized by a homogeneous structure with high dispersion. Such morphology has high specific surface, which favors high sensory response. In addition, in this range of aggregate composition the relationship between the particles of the catalytically active component- ZnO, cleavage of hydrogen molecule, and In 2 O 3 particles with a high concentration of conduction electrons is close to optimal for the maximum sensory effect in the detection of hydrogen.
KeywordsNanoheterogenous FilmsNanocomposite FilmsMixed Metal Oxide FilmsAerosol Deposition
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