Microwave-assisted synthesis of Sn[O.sub.2] nanorods for oxygen gas sensing at room temperature

• Published in: International journal of nanomedicine Vol. 8; p. 3875
• Main Authors: Azam, Ameer, Habib, Sami S, Salah, Numan A, Ahmed, Faheem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Diffraction; Nanorods; Tin compounds; X-rays; South Korea
• ISSN: 1178-2013; 1178-2013
• DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S51206

High-quality single-crystalline Sn[O.sub.2] nanorods were synthesized using a microwave-assisted solution method. The nanorods were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible and Raman spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and electrical resistance measurements. The XRD pattern indicated the formation of single-phase Sn[O.sub.2] nanorods with rutile structure. FE-SEM and TEM images revealed tetragonal nanorods of about 450-500 nm in length and 60-80 nm in diameter. The nanorods showed a higher BET surface area of 288 [m.sup.2]/g, much higher than that of previously reported work. The Raman scattering spectra indicated a typical rutile phase of the Sn[O.sub.2]. The absorption spectrum showed an absorption peak centered at 340 nm, and the band-gap value was found to be 3.64 eV The gas-sensing properties of the Sn[O.sub.2] nanorods for oxygen gas with different concentrations were measured at room temperature. It was found that the value of resistance increased with the increase in oxygen gas concentration in the test chamber. The Sn[O.sub.2] nanorods exhibited high sensitivity and rapid response-recovery characteristics to oxygen gas, and could detect oxygen concentration as low as 1, 3, 5, and 10 ppm. Keywords: Sn[O.sub.2], nanorods, microwave, gas sensor