Improving the sensor characteristics of binary and ternary oxide nanosystems

Currently, adsorption gas sensors are of great interest for environmental monitoring. The approaches to improving their properties include synthesis of nanostructured materials of various shapes and modification of the metal oxide chemical composition. The aim of this work is to develop ways to improve the sensor properties of zinc oxide nanowires by changing the surface structure during processing in solutions of tin and iron compounds, as well as adding special precursors during their synthesis. The layers consisting of zinc oxide nanowires were produced by hydrothermal method. Ternary Zn-Sn-O and Zn-Fe-O nanosystems were synthesized as a result of processing of zinc oxide nanowires in solutions containing potassium stannate and iron sulfate, respectively. ZnO nanowires were also synthesized in a solution containing sodium bromide in addition to the general precursors. The surface chemical composition was analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Sensor properties were investigated by detecting acetone, isopropanol and methanol vapors. It was shown that the sensor response of the produced samples exceeds the response of the initial zinc oxide nanowires. The samples of Zn-Sn-O ternary oxide system have the best response. The improvement of the sensor response may be associated with an increase in the content of adsorbed oxygen ions on the surface of the samples, the presence of metal cations with different properties as well as the formation of heterostructures.