Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of the zinc oxide decored with platinum nanoparticles for volatile organic compounds detection

• Grant number: 16/22219-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Diogo Paschoalini Volanti
• Grantee: Taís Nascimento Teixeira Oliveira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sensors of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have great importance for application in the environment and also in health. However, the devices commonly used still need to improve their sensitivity, response time, and lifetime. In this sense, the research project concerns the evaluation of the synergic effect of nanoparticles (NPs) of platinum (Pt) deposited on the surface of zinc oxide (ZnO) micrometer to improve sensitivity to VOCs. The Pt/ZnO heterostructure will be prepared in two steps: (I) crystallization of ZnO (with controlled morphology) by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method from the precipitation of Zn2 + solutions sprayed by an ultrasonic spray on alkaline solution, and (II) reduction of aqueous solutions of Pt4 + with sodium borohydride to obtain different mass concentrations (e.g.: 2, 5 and 10%) of the Pt metal relative to ZnO. Expected to increase the sensitivity of heterostructures by the catalytic effect of Pt. Thus, the density of the ionosorbed oxygen species is increased on the surface of the sensor, which, in turn, can react with the molecules of VOCs. All synthesized materials will be characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, surface area measurements and thermal analysis. The sensor response samples of pure ZnO and Pt/ZnO heterostructures be assessed by electrical measurement (conductivity change) in the presence of low concentrations (e.g.: 5, 50, 100 and 200 ppm) of vapors of VOCs (e.g.: ethanol, methanol, acetone, xylene, and benzene). This proposal has the support of aid to regular research supported by FAPESP (Grant:14/17343-0) (AU)

Scientific publications

(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)

ZITO, CECILIA A.; PERFECTO, TARCISIO M.; OLIVEIRA, TAIS N. T.; VOLANTI, DIOGO P.. Bicone-like ZnO structure as high-performance butanone sensor. Materials Letters, v. 223, p. 142-145, JUL 15 2018. (17/01267-1, 16/25267-8, 16/04371-1, 13/23886-4, 16/22219-2)

OLIVEIRA, TAIS N. T.; ZITO, CECILIA A.; PERFECTO, TARCISIO M.; AZEVEDO, GUSTAVO M.; VOLANTI, DIOGO P.. ZnO twin-rods decorated with Pt nanoparticles for butanone detection. NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, v. 44, n. 36, p. 10-pg., 2020-09-28. (19/12345-9, 18/00033-0, 16/25267-8, 16/22219-2, 17/01267-1, 18/01258-5, 13/23886-4)