Zn-doped and undoped SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles: A comparative structural, optical and LPG sensing properties study

Journal Article · Sat Dec 15 04:00:00 EST 2012 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2012.08.051· OSTI ID:22215659

Mishra, R. K. ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad 211004 (India)

Graphical abstract: The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses confirm that all the materials prepared are polycrystalline SnO{sub 2} possessing tetragonal rutile structure. On Zn-doping, the crystallite size has been found to decrease from 25 nm (undoped sample) to 13 nm (1 at% Zn-doped sample). Display Omitted Highlights: ► Zn-doped SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles show smaller crystallite size (11–17 nm). ► Optical band gap in SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles increases on Zn-doping. ► 2 at% Zn-doped sample show minimum room temperature resistivity. ► LPG response of the Zn-doped SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles increases considerably. ► 1 at% Zn-doped sample shows maximum response (87%) at 300 °C to 1 vol% concentration. -- Abstract: SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles were prepared by the co-precipitation method with SnCl{sub 4}·5H{sub 2}O as the starting material and Zn(CH{sub 3}COO){sub 2}·2H{sub 2}O as the source of dopant. All the materials prepared have been found to be polycrystalline SnO{sub 2} possessing tetragonal rutile structure with crystallite sizes in the range 11–25 nm. Optical analyses reveal that for the SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles, both undoped and Zn-doped, direct transition occurs with the bandgap energies in the range 3.05–3.41 eV. Variation in the room temperature resistivity of the SnO{sub 2} nanoparticles as a function of dopant concentration has been explained on the basis of two competitive processes: (i) replacement of Sn{sup 4+} ion by an added Zn{sup 2+} ion, and (ii) ionic compensation of Zn{sup 2+} by the formation of oxygen vacancies. Among all the samples examined for LPG sensing, the 1 at% Zn-doped sample exhibits fast and maximum response (∼87%) at 300 °C for 1 vol% concentration of LPG in air.

• OSTI ID: 22215659
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Journal Name: Materials Research Bulletin Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 47; ISSN MRBUAC; ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
DOPED MATERIALS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
NANOSTRUCTURES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
POLYCRYSTALS
RUTILE
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SYNTHESIS
TIN IONS
TIN OXIDES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
ZINC IONS