Synthesis and characterization of ZnO thin and thick films : application as gas sensors

• Grant number: 12/15170-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: December 01, 2012
• End date: August 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Valmor Roberto Mastelaro
• Grantee: Ariadne Cristina Catto
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The zinc oxide (ZnO)compound was the first material in the form of thin films being applied as gas sensor. Although a significant amount of work about the use of ZnO as a gas sensor has been published in recent years, the sensitivity and selectivity increasing with respect to detection of certain types of gases and their use at a temperature closer to ambient remain goals to be achieved. Different studies have shown that these factors may be strongly affected by changes in particle size and morpholog, as well as by doping or the use of catalysts. In this context, this PhD project proposes to carry out the synthesis of pure and doped ZnO compound with cobalt (Zn1-xCoxO) in the form of thin and thick films by three different methods of synthesis: the polymeric precursor method, the conventional hydrothermal method or assisted by microwave and evaporation method using the electron beam. By using these techniques, samples of ZnO and Zn1-xCoxO (x = 1, 2.5 and 5 mol%) micro or nanostructured showing different morphologies will be obtained in a powder and also in the thin and thick films form. ZnO and Zn1-xCoxO samples in a powder form will be used as target for the evaporation of thin films by electron beam. Besides the characterization by conventional techniques, an innovative proposal in this project will be a study "in situ" of the electronic and local structur of these samples using the x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to evaluate the effect of doping and exposure to different types of gases. Finally, the films presenting the better quality will be characterized concerning their ability to be used as gas sensors by carrying out electrical measurements.

Scientific publications

(9)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CATTO, ARIADNE C.; DA SILVA, LUIS F.; RIBEIRO, CAUE; BERNARDINI, SANDRINE; AGUIR, KHALIFA; LONGO, ELSON; MASTELARO, VALMOR. R.. An easy method of preparing ozone gas sensors based on ZnO nanorods. RSC ADVANCES, v. 5, n. 25, p. 19528-19533, 2015. (12/15170-6, 13/07296-2, 13/09573-3)

DA SILVA, LUIS F.; MASTELARO, VALMOR R.; CATTO, ARIADNE C.; ESCANHOELA, JR., CARLOS A.; BERNARDINI, SANDRINE; ZILIO, SERGIO C.; LONGO, ELSON; AGUIR, KHALIFA. Ozone and nitrogen dioxide gas sensor based on a nanostructured SrTi0.85Fe0.15O3 thin film. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, v. 638, p. 374-379, JUL 25 2015. (12/15170-6, 13/12473-0, 13/07296-2, 13/09573-3)

DA SILVA, LUIS F.; LOPES, OSMANDO F.; CATTO, ARIADNE C.; AVANSI, JR., WALDIR; BERNARDI, MARIA I. B.; LI, MAXIMO SIU; RIBEIRO, CAUE; LONGO, ELSON. Hierarchical growth of ZnO nanorods over SnO2 seed layer: insights into electronic properties from photocatalytic activity. RSC ADVANCES, v. 6, n. 3, p. 2112-2118, 2016. (12/15170-6, 13/13888-0, 13/09573-3, 13/07296-2)

CATTO, ARIADNE C.; DA SILVA, LUIS F.; BERNARDI, MARIA INES B.; BERNARDINI, SANDRINE; AGUIR, KHALIFA; LONGO, ELSON; MASTELARO, VALMOR R.. Local Structure and Surface Properties of CoxZn1-xO Thin Films for Ozone Gas Sensing. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES, v. 8, n. 39, p. 26066-26072, OCT 5 2016. (12/15170-6, 13/07296-2, 13/09573-3)

DA SILVA, LUIS F.; CATTO, ARIADNE C.; AVANSI, JR., WALDIR; CAVALCANTE, LAECIO S.; MASTELARO, VALMOR R.; ANDRES, JUAN; AGUIR, KHALIFA; LONGO, ELSON. Acetone gas sensor based on alpha-Ag2WO4 nanorods obtained via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal route. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, v. 683, p. 186-190, OCT 25 2016. (12/15170-6, 13/07296-2, 13/09573-3)

DA SILVA, LUIS F.; M'PEKO, J. -C.; CATTO, ARIADNE C.; BERNARDINI, SANDRINE; MASTELARO, VALMOR R.; AGUIR, KHALIFA; RIBEIRO, CAUE; LONGO, ELSON. UV-enhanced ozone gas sensing response of ZnO-SnO2 heterojunctions at room temperature. SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL, v. 240, p. 573-579, MAR 2017. (12/15170-6, 13/07296-2, 15/20124-1, 13/09573-3)

CATTO, ARIADNE C.; DA SILVA, LUIS F.; BERNARDI, MARIA I. B.; LI, MAXIMO S.; LONGO, ELSON; LISBOA-FILHO, PAULO N.; NASCIMENTO, OTACIRO R.; MASTELARO, VALMOR R.. An investigation into the influence of zinc precursor on the microstructural, photoluminescence, and gas-sensing properties of ZnO nanoparticles. JOURNAL OF NANOPARTICLE RESEARCH, v. 16, n. 12, DEC 2014. (12/15170-6, 11/22098-7, 13/09573-3)

CATTO, ARIADNE C.; FERRER, MATEUS M.; LOPES, OSMANDO F.; MASTELARO, VALMOR R.; ANDRES, JUAN; DA SILVA, LUIS F.; LONGO, ELSON; AVANSI JR, WALDIR. The role of counter-ions in crystal morphology, surface structure and photocatalytic activity of ZnO crystals grown onto a substrate. Applied Surface Science, v. 529, NOV 1 2020. (18/18208-0, 17/12437-5, 13/13888-0, 13/07296-2, 12/15170-6)

COLMENARES, Y. N.; CORRER, W.; LIMA, B. S.; MASTELARO, V. R.. The effect of morphology on the ozone-gas sensing properties of zinc oxide sputtered films. Thin Solid Films, v. 703, JUN 1 2020. (12/15170-6, 13/07296-2, 15/20124-1, 13/09573-3)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

CATTO, Ariadne Cristina. Synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanostructures for application as gas sensors. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD) São Carlos.