Fabrication of ZnO and ZnO:Sb Nanoparticles for  Gas Sensor Applications

Kashyout, A. B.; Soliman, H. M. A.; Shokry Hassan, H.; Abousehly, A. M.

doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/341841

Journal of Nanomaterials

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Research Article | Open Access

Volume 2010 | Article ID 341841 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/341841

Fabrication of ZnO and ZnO:Sb Nanoparticles for Gas Sensor Applications

A. B. Kashyout,¹H. M. A. Soliman,¹H. Shokry Hassan,¹and A. M. Abousehly²

Academic Editor: P. Panine

Received15 Nov 2009

Accepted31 Aug 2010

Published27 Sept 2010

Abstract

ZnO and Sb-doped ZnO nanoparticles were successfully prepared using sol-gel technique. Different concentrations of triethanolamine (TEA) were utilized as the preparation procedure to act as complexing agent that enhances the doping probability of the formed Sb-doped ZnO nanopowder. Thick films of the prepared nanopowders were fabricated with spinner coating. Morphological characteristics, phase structure, chemical composition, thermal stability, and optical properties of the prepared nanopowders were measured and analyzed. The average crystallite size of ZnO and ZnO:Sb powders ranged between 19–28 nm according to the XRD calculations and TEM observations. The gas sensitivity of the homemade devices based on Sb-doped ZnO nanoparticles towards and gases as a function of temperature was measured and compared with undoped ZnO films. The gas sensitivity of the films was greatly improved after doping with Sb and reached its maximum value of ~86% for gas at 93:7 wt% of Zn:Sb.

1. Introduction

Recently, there is a great need for the production of low cost transparent conducting films (e.g., ZnO, SnO₂, In₂O₃, and Cd₂SnO₄) [1–3] due to their applications in various energy efficient disciplines such as window layer in heterojunction solar cells, dye sensitized solar cells, heat mirrors, piezoelectric devices, multilayer photo thermal conversion systems, thin film transistor (TFT) and solid state gas sensors [4]. Metal oxide gas sensing films have been widely used due to their excellent properties such as small size, low cost, high sensitivity, fast response, and recovery speed. Enhancing the selectivity/sensitivity and improving the stability of the prepared oxides are urgent demands [5]. ZnO is an oxide of group II metallic zinc [6] that exists between semiconductors and ionic materials, which gives ZnO the electrical amphoteric property as n-type semiconductor in most preparation procedures, although p-type conductivity was also reported under certain conditions [7, 8]. ZnO is a very interesting material due to its high transmittance in the visible region and high chemical/thermal/mechanical stability [9]. The great advantage of using ZnO films in transparent electronic devices refer to the possibility of manufacturing high quality and transparent polycrystalline zinc oxide films at room temperature [10]. Several techniques have also been stated to grow doped and nondoped ZnO films as vapor condensation, thermal evaporation, spray pyrolysis, magnetron sputtering, metal organic chemical vapor deposition, and sol-gel among others [11–15]. However, most of these techniques need high temperature in order to get high quality polycrystalline materials. Antimony doped ZnO was prepared by mixing -Sb₂O₃ at high temperatures up to 120C [16]. Also, ZnO:Sb was synthesized by vapor condensation route using Zn and Zn-Sb alloy with different molar ratios [17]. Gas sensitivity towards some volatile organic compounds was evaluated within the produced ZnO:Sb [17]. In this work, sol-gel route was used to prepare ZnO and ZnO:Sb nanoparticles, then spinner coating technique was also used to prepare thick films for gas sensor devices. The effect of triethanolamine (TEA) on the properties of the ZnO nanoparticles was investigated. Different Sb doping ratios were incorporated into the ZnO matrix and their effects on different materials properties and gas sensing sensitivity were also studied.

2. Experimental Details

2.1. Preparation of ZnO/Sb-Doped ZnO Nanopowders and Films Fabrication

The ZnO nanopowders were prepared via sol-gel route [1] by mixing 0.1 M aqueous solution of zinc nitrate monohydrate with different concentrations of TEA (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 M). In case of preparing 3, 5, 7, and 10 wt% Sb-doped ZnO; an equivalent amount of antimony trichloride was added to the mixture of zinc nitrate monohydrate and TEA. Then the resulting solutions were aged at 100^˚C for 24 hours. The obtained powders were washed with distilled water to remove any residual salts, centrifuged at 6000 rpm for 30 minutes and finally dried at 3C. The colloidal solution was obtained by mixing the ZnO nanopowder with ethanol and vigorously stirred and left overnight to form homogeneous suspension of 20 wt% ZnO. The suspension was applied onto the substrate by wafer spinner machine (Model Polos300 AWS) at 100 rpm for 2 minutes or according to the desired thickness. The film was then allowed to dry in air for 15 minutes and sintered in airflow at 400°C for 5 minutes.

2.2. Preparation of Solid State Semiconductor Gas Sensors

The glass substrates were ultrasonically cleaned in acetone for 15 minutes, then rinsed several times with deionized water. The heater (platinum heater) was deposited by a sputtering machine (Turbo Sputtering RF & DC Power Supplies Deposition System Model Hummer 8.1), ( W RF, minutes). Then, the suspension of metal oxide (ZnO or Sb-doped ZnO) was applied onto the substrate by wafer spinner machine (100 rpm, 2 minutes), then the film was allowed to dry in air and this was repeated for several times to achieve the desired thickness. Finally Pt contact was deposited ( W RF, minutes).

2.3. Characterization of ZnO and Sb-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles

X-ray diffraction patterns of the nanopowders were obtained using Schimadzu 7000 Diffractometer operating with Cu K radiation ( nm) generated at 30 kV and 30 mA with scan rate of min^-1 for 2 values between 20 and 80 degrees. Chemical composition of the Sb-doped ZnO nanoparticles was performed with an energy dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDS) analyzer combined with scanning electron microscope (JEOL JSM 6360LA, Japan). ZnO:Sb nanoparticles micrographs for gas sensor consist of ZnO film, heater and the two Pt electrodes were investigated with SEM. The morphologies and size of ZnO and Sb-doped ZnO nanoparticles were obtained from TEM (JEOL JEM 1230, Japan) measurements. The FTIR spectrums of the prepared ZnO and Sb-doped ZnO with 5, 10 wt% of Sb were measured using Shimadzu FTIR-8400 S, Japan over the wave length range 400–4000 cm^-1. The thermal stability of ZnO prepared using different percentages of (TEA) was evaluated by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) using Thermogravimetric Analyzer (Shimadzu TGA –50 H, Japan). The measurements were carried out with a heating rate of 1C min^-1 under flow of N₂ gas up to 60C. The optical absorption measurements for all thin films were measured in transmittance and absorbance modes with a double beam spectrophotometer (UV-Vis, Spectrophotometer, Spectro Double 8 Auto cell).

2.4. Electrical Properties of the Gas Sensors

The resistivity of gas sensors were measured versus temperature utilizing different gases. The measurements were carried out in the temperature range 20–12C with O₂, CO₂, and smoke gas, which reflects the real fire conditions. The effect of Sb doping on the sensitivity of gas sensor was also studied. All of these measurements have been carried out using home made gas chamber able to work at high temperatures and pressures and under dark conditions to avoid the effect of UV radiation [17]. For the measurement of smoke gas, a white paper was burnt in air then the gas sensor device was exposed to the smoke which composition was given by TGA analyses.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Effect of TEA on ZnO Nanoparticles

TEA has the chemical formula N(CH₂CH₂OH)₃, which acts generally as a weak base due to the single lone pair of electrons on nitrogen atom [18]. It is important to understand the physiochemical processes involved in the sol-gel preparation of ZnO nanoparticles. In an aqueous solution, metal cations M^+Z are solvated by water molecules forming the aquo-ions as [M(OH₂]^+Z. The M–OH₂ bond is polarized, which facilitates the deprotonation of the coordinated water. In dilute solutions, a range of monomeric species exists such as ([M(OH₂(OH and other hydroxyl species [M(OH]; ultimately oxygen ions are formed. In order to form the poly-nuclear species, which subsequently developed into metal oxide particles, reactions involving condensation must occur [19]. Two important processes have been recognized, which are:(i)Olation bridge “ol-bridge” formation by reaction of hydroxo and aquo species as follow [20, 21]: (ii)Oxolation bridge “oxo-bridge” by the dehydration of hydroxo species:

Accordingly, TEA as a complexing agent could coordinate to zinc ions and enhance the dissolution of zinc hydroxide converting its moiety into zinc oxide. As the concentration of TEA increases, the pH value will increase, Table 1, which will facilitate the solubility of zinc hydroxide and, consequently, ZnO formation. Table 1 shows also the variation of the net yield of zinc oxide with the concentration of TEA. The ZnO yield was calculated according to the amount of Zn in zinc nitrate precursor to that in the resulted ZnO powder. Also, yield values were calculated after heat treatment of the powder at 40C for 5 minutes to remove any undesirable residue. It is obvious in Table 1 that the yield increases as the pH value become more basic until it reaches maximum yield of 94% at 0.5 M TEA. This finding could be easily explained on the basis of lower TEA concentration that means lower complexation with zinc ions in solution, which in turn reduces the probability of converting zinc hydroxide into zinc oxide, giving low yield. In the contrary, higher TEA concentration will be complexed with most of zinc ions, giving more chance for zinc hydroxide to become zinc oxide and finally higher yield [22].

3.2. Thermal Characterization (TGA)

The thermal stability of ZnO nanopowders was evaluated by TGA. The TGA thermograms of ZnO nanopowders with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 M of TEA are shown in Figure 1. It is noticeable in Figure 1 at temperature 10C that weight loss was equivalent to loss of water being minimum for samples of low TEA content (0.1 and 0.2 M), while weight loss was more pronounced and reached about 3% for sample of 0.5 M TEA. Also, the main weight loss temperature ranged between 171.8C and 398.3C, and ZnO yield increased with increasing the concentration of TEA until its maximum value at 0.5 M TEA. The main bulk of these impurities are hydrocarbons substances. Although, ZnO yield was small at low TEA concentration, there were no impurities, and vice versa at higher TEA contents. This explains the increase in weight loss in the TGA thermographs at higher TEA contents.

3.3. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)

XRD was used to characterize the different phases of the prepared ZnO nanopowders. Figure 2 shows the XRD patterns for the deposited nanocrystalline ZnO films with different amounts of TEA. At 0.1 M TEA, the XRD patterns (Figure 2(a)) reveal all peaks of the hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure. Increasing the TEA concentration to 0.2 M (Figure 2(b)), 0.3 M (Figure 2(c)), and 0.4 M (Figure 2(d)) results in decreasing the peaks intensity and disappearing of some weak peaks (e.g., (200), (004), (202)). Also, the full width half maximum (FWHM) of (101) peak is increased with increasing the TEA concentration, reflecting a decreasing order in particle size of ZnO with increasing TEA concentration.

Figure 3 demonstrates the XRD patterns of undoped ZnO nanoparticles and Sb-doped ZnO with different wt% of Sb. All diffraction peaks were indexed to hexagonal wurtzite ZnO⁽²³⁾. Figure 3(a) reveals a highly crystallized wurtzite structure with no peaks corresponding to Sb. When Sb-doping begins, a very small diffraction peak appeared at 28. (Figure 3(b)), which is increased in intensity with increasing Sb ratio (Figures 3(c), 3(d), and 3(e)) [23]. This peak is related to Sb₂O₃ (JCPDS Card no. 43-1071).

The full width of (002) peak at half-maximum became narrower in all peaks in a single profile. The remarkable difference in the full width at half maximum supports our interpretation that ZnO crystals may promote along the [01] direction (c-direction), resulting in the formation of nanoparticles [24]. The average crystallite size of ZnO and Sb-doped ZnO powders was calculated from the full width at half maximum of (100) diffraction peak using Debye Scherrer's equation [25] where is the average crystallite size in nm, is the characteristic wavelength of X-ray used (1.5406 Å), is the diffraction angle, and is the angular width in radians at intensity equal to half of the maximum peak intensity [26].

The crystallite size of ZnO is increased from 19 to 28 nm as TEA concentration increased from 0.1 to 0.5 M; respectively. This result indicates that increasing TEA concentration affects ZnO crystallite size as some undesirable impurities has contributed into the reaction and formed chemical bonds. Smaller particles of ZnO were successfully fabricated using this simple mixing technique compared with particles prepared using another relatively simple methods such as ZnO-aggregated colloidal spheres obtained using the sol-gel method (average diameter 185 nm) [27] or the double-jet method (average diameter 200 nm) [28].

3.4. SEM and EDS

Figure 4 shows the SEM images of pure ZnO, ZnO doped with 5%, and 10% Sb, respectively. It is noted that at pure ZnO (Figure 4(a)), ZnO particles are well identified and aggregated (100 nm in size). As 5 wt% Sb was added to the reaction (Figure 4(b)), the particles became smaller and darker, but homogeneous. Even finer particles were observed when wt% of Sb became 10% (Figure 4(c)) with distinguished separate dark and light areas or, in other wards, heterogeneous morphology, indicating excess Sb. Figure 5 is the SEM overview of the as-prepared gas sensor, in which the fingers are continuously connected and no isolation points were detected indicating good connection for the ZnO device gas sensors. Table 2 lists the measured EDS of Sb wt% to be 2.17% for ZnO nanopowder doped with 3 wt% Sb. Also, no other impurities were detected indicating pure ZnO films.

(a)

(b)

(c)

3.5. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

The crystal size and morphology of pure ZnO, and ZnO doped with 5 and 10 wt% Sb were illustrated in Figure 6. The corresponding diffraction patterns are shown in the insets of Figure 6(a). The diffraction patterns illustrate spot patterns of the hexagonal structures of ZnO, designating high crystallinity of ZnO nanoparticles, which is in good agreements with the XRD data [26]. The particle size of pure ZnO hexagonal was in the range of 20–30 nm (Figure 6(a)). However, the doped ZnO samples have hexagonal particles in the range of 10–20 nm (Figures 6(b) and 6(c)), proving that the doping process reduced the particle size of the former ZnO particles. These results were compatible with their counterparts of XRD. Furthermore, by comparing the three TEM figures, it is clear that the presence of dark spots of Sb were increased as its wt% increased. In addition, no dark spots were noticed for pure ZnO (Figure 6(a)), giving rise to homogeneous composition.

(a)

(b)

(c)

3.6. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometry (FT-IR)

Figure 7 gives the FTIR spectrum of the ZnO and ZnO doped with 5 and 10 wt% Sb. It is indicated from this figure that for all samples prepared in presence of TEA, the broadband at 3400 cm^-1 is assigned for asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibrational OH groups. However, the band at 1600 cm^-1 is assigned for the H–O–H bending vibration. Moreover, the band at 1400 cm^-1 stands for C–H₂ in TEA [22]. The IR absorption band at 440 cm^-1 originates from the Zn–O stretching vibration. Regarding the FT-IR of the Sb doped samples, a new peak at 688 cm^-1 is indicated, which is absent in the spectrum of pure ZnO. This new peak at 688 cm^-1 is due to the presence of Sb₂O₃ [29] with increasing order in its intensity from 5 wt% to 10 wt% Sb as illustrated in Figure 7.

3.7. UV-Vis Spectroscopy

In this part, we studied the effect of heat treatment and doping on the transmittance and absorbance of ZnO. Figure 8 shows the difference in transmittance between undoped ZnO and ZnO films with different Sb doping ratios. It is clear that the transmittance values are decreased with increasing the amount of Sb and the transmittance edge is shifted to more UV values.

The absorption coefficients () were calculated and plotted for the direct transition ()² versus υ of the undoped ZnO and ZnO:Sb films as explained in Figure 9. The value of the band gap of undoped nanocrystalline ZnO film is 3.26 eV and increased by Sb doping as it was 3.309 eV for 3 wt% Sb, 3.318 eV for 5 wt% Sb, and 3.329 eV for 10 wt% Sb. This enhancement in band gap is due to the Sb incorporation and the high carrier concentration that moved the optical absorption edge towards lower energy and broadened the energy gap [30].

3.8. Electrical Measurements of Gas Sensors

Solid state gas sensor consists of four main components, isolated substrate (glass, ceramics, etc.), heater, semiconductor metal oxide, and two electrodes. The gas sensitivity, , is given by [31] where and express the resistance of the sensor in air and in detecting gas, respectively.

Figures 10 and 11 show the gas sensitivity of the gas sensing films made of undoped ZnO and Sb-doped ZnO nanoparticles as a function of temperature for O₂ and CO₂ gases, respectively. From those figures, it is observed that the gas sensitivity is high for O₂ gas than CO₂. Also, the sensitivity performance towards O₂ and CO₂ gases of Sb-doped ZnO nanoparticles is higher than that of pure ZnO. The sensitivity of prepared nanoparticles increased from 15 to 86% as the Zn:Sb weight ratios in the alloy varied from 97:3 to 93:7 with maximum improvement at Zn:Sb = 93:7. Dayan [31] found that Sb ions dispersed on the surface of the grains of the sensor materials have very low catalytic activity and could easily activate the reducing gases to react with the sensor surface and enhance the sensitivity better than pure ZnO-based sensors. In this case, different form mechanical mixtures in Sb ions are doped into interstitial or substitutional positions of the ZnO lattice rather than dispersing onto the grain surface of sensor material. Therefore, Sb ions of the ZnO lattice are responsible for the higher gas sensitivity. As the content of Sb in the sensor device is further increased to become Zn:Sb = 90:10, the sensitivity of the device dropped down to 75%.

The best use of gas sensor application is the detection of environmental pollutants. One of the most toxic gases that commonly dispersive and has effect on the environment is the smoke gas, which results from combustion of fuels and trashes with a major content of CO₂ considering the combustion is full. Figure 12 shows the sensitivity of ZnO gas sensors doped with different amounts of Sb towards smoke which was analyzed using TGA in air as well as nitrogen and found that the white paper evolves 5% H₂O and about 54% of CO₂ of total weight of the sample. As stated before in [28] that Sb doped ZnO activates the reducing gases to react with the sensor surface and consequently enhance its sensitivity, which is observed at lower Sb concentrations (3, 5, 7 wt%). At higher concentration of Sb (10 wt%), a slightly decrease in the smoke sensitivity (Figure 12), which may be attributed to the decrease in conductivity where transition of electrons is affected by increasing Sb⁺⁵ concentration, which is not observed by X-ray diffraction (Figure 3(e)).

4. Conclusions

ZnO and ZnO:Sb nanoparticles were prepared by sol-gel technique. Thick films were prepared using spinner coating to construct gas sensor devices. TEA was used as complexing agent and its concentration was greatly affecting the ZnO yield due to the increase in pH and the rate of converting zinc hydroxide into oxide. The crystallite size calculated from XRD data ranged 19–28 nm and almost matched the TEM results. The calculated energy gap was enhanced with Sb doping due to the high carrier concentration that makes the optical absorption edge moving towards lower energy and broadened the energy gap. The gas sensitivity was higher for O₂ gas than CO₂, and the sensitivity improved after Sb doping with maximum enhancement at Zn:Sb = 93:7.

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Copyright © 2010 A. B. Kashyout et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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