ZnO Hexagonal Nano- and Microplates Modified with Nanomaterials as a Gas-Sensitive Material for DMS Detection-Extended Studies.

The detection of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) at levels between ppb and ppm is a significant area of research due to the necessity of monitoring the presence of this gas in a variety of environments. These include environmental protection, industrial safety and medical diagnostics. Issues related to certain uncertainties concerning the influence of high humidity on DMS measurements with resistive gas sensors, e.g., in the detection of this marker in exhaled air, of the still unsatisfactory lower detection limit of DMS are the subject of intensive research. This paper presents the results of modifying the composition of the ZnO-based sensor layer to develop a DMS sensor with higher sensitivity and lower detection limit (LOD). Improved performance was achieved by using ZnO in the form of hexagonal nano- and microplates doped with gold nanoparticles (0.75 wt.%) and by using a well-proven sepiolite-based passive filter. The modification of the layer composition with respect to the authors' previous studies contributed to the development of a sensor that is highly sensitive to 1 ppm DMS (S = 11.4) and achieves an LOD of up to 406 ppb, despite the presence of a high water vapour content (90% RH) in the analysed atmosphere.

P-type Inversion at the Surface of ß-Ga2O3 Epitaxial Layer Modified with Au Nanoparticles.

The electric properties and chemical and thermal stability of gallium oxide ß-Ga2O3 make it a promising material for a wide variety of electronic devices, including chemiresistive gas sensors. However, p-type doping of ß-Ga2O3 still remains a challenge. A ß-Ga2O3 epitaxial layer with a highly developed surface was synthesized on gold electrodes on a Al2O3 substrate via a Halide Vapor Phase Epitaxy (HVPE) method. The epitaxial layer was impregnated with an aqueous colloidal solution of gold nanoparticles with an average diameter of Au nanoparticle less than 5 nm. Electrical impedance of the layer was measured before and after modification with the Au nanoparticles in an ambient atmosphere, in dry nitrogen, and in air containing dimethyl sulfide C2H6S (DMS). After the impregnation of the ß-Ga2O3 epitaxial layer with Au nanoparticles, its conductance increased, and its electric response to air containing DMS had been inversed. The introduction of Au nanoparticles at the surface of the metal oxide was responsible for the formation of an internal depleted region and p-type conductivity at the surface.

Correlation between Microstructure and Chemical Composition of Zinc Oxide Gas Sensor Layers and Their Gas-Sensitive Properties in Chlorine Atmosphere.

In this article, we present results concerning the impact of structural and chemical properties of zinc oxide in various morphological forms and its gas-sensitive properties, tested in an atmosphere containing a very aggressive gas such as chlorine. The aim of this research was to understand the mechanism of chlorine detection using a resistive gas sensor with an active layer made of zinc oxide with a different structure and morphology. Two types of ZnO sensor layers obtained by two different technological methods were used in sensor construction. Their morphology, crystal structure, specific surface area, porosity, surface chemistry and structural defects were characterized, and then compared with gas-sensitive properties in a chlorine-containing atmosphere. To achieve this goal, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) methods were used. The sensing properties of obtained active layers were tested by the temperature stimulated conductance method (TSC). We have noticed that their response in a chlorine atmosphere is not determined by the size of the specific surface or porosity. The obtained results showed that the structural defects of ZnO crystals play the most important role in chlorine detection. We demonstrated that Cl2 adsorption is a concurrent process to oxygen adsorption. Both of them occur on the same active species (oxygen vacancies). Their concentration is higher on the side planes of the zinc oxide crystal than the others. Additionally, ZnO sublimation process plays an important role in the chlorine detection mechanism.

The Impact of Sepiolite on Sensor Parameters during the Detection of Low Concentrations of Alcohols.

The article presents the results of the detection of low-concentration C1-C4 alcohols using a planar sensor, in which a sepiolite filter was applied next to the gas-sensitive layer based on tin dioxide. The sepiolite layer is composed of tubes that have a length of several microns, and the diameter of the single tube ranges from several to tens of nanometers. The sepiolite layer itself demonstrated no chemical activity in the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOC), and the passive filter made of this material did not modify the chemical composition of the gaseous atmosphere diffusing to the gas-sensitive layer. The test results revealed that the structural remodelling of the sepiolite that occurs under the influence of temperature, as well as the effect of the filter (a compound with ionic bonds) with molecules of water, has a significant impact on the improvement of the sensitivity of the sensor in relation to volatile organic compounds when compared to the sensor without a filter.

Analysis of SnO2|WO3 heterocontact properties during the detection of hydrogen sulphide.

The main objective of the paper was the analysis of the properties of SnO2|WO3 heterocontact as well as the determination of its response to 50 ppm of hydrogen sulphide. It was noticed that the sensitivity of the sensor being tested to hydrogen sulphide depended significantly on the polarization direction. When its parameters were compared with those of sensors the gas-sensitive layer of which was made only from one type of metal oxide, a high impact of the heterocontact on the electric charge transport was noticed. The value of the activation energy of the electric conductivity is clearly dependent on the polarization direction. A mechanism of physicochemical processes occurring in a planar sensor with a heterocontact was suggested, and three areas differing in the width of depleted layer, where the inter-phase boundary of SnO2|WO3 had the most essential impact on the parameters of the sensor being tested, were distinguished and described.

Electrical Conductance Mechanism of Silver-Polyacrylonitrile Nanocomposite Fibers.

This paper presents the mechanism of electrical conductivity in nanocomposite polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers modified with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Fibers were formed by the wet-spinning method. The nanoparticles were introduced into the polymer matrix as a result of direct synthesis in the spinning solution from which the fibers were obtained, thereby influencing the chemical and physical properties of the polymer matrix. The structure of the nanocomposite fibers was determined using SEM, TEM, and XRD, and the electrical properties were determined using the DC and AC methods. The conductivity of the fibers was electronic and based on the percolation theory with tunneling through the polymer phase. This article describes in detail the influence of individual fiber parameters on the final electrical conductivity of the PAN/AgNPs composite and presents the mechanism of conductivity.

Oxidation of hydrocarbons on the surface of tin dioxide chemical sensors.

The paper presents the results of our investigation on the effect of the molecular structure of organic vapors on the characteristics of resistive chemical gas sensors. The sensors were based on tin dioxide and prepared by means of thick film technology. The electrical and catalytic examinations showed that the abstraction of two hydrogen atoms from the organic molecule and formation of a water in result of reaction with a chemisorbed oxygen ion, determine the rate of oxidation reactions, and thus the sensor performance. The rate of the process depends on the order of carbon atoms and Lewis acidity of the molecule. Therefore, any modification of the surface centers of a sensor material, modifies not only the sensor sensitivity, but also its selectivity.

Morphology of Ga2O3 Nanowires and Their Sensitivity to Volatile Organic Compounds.

Gas sensitive structures made of nanowires exhibit extremally large specific surface area, and a great number of chemically active centres that can react with the ambient atmosphere. This makes the use of nanomaterials promising for super sensitive gas sensor applications. Monoclinic ß-Ga2O3 nanowires (NWs) were synthesized from metallic gallium at atmospheric pressure in the presence of nitrogen and water vapor. The nanowires were grown directly on interdigitated gold electrodes screen printed on Al2O3 substrates, which constituted the gas sensor structure. The observations made with transmission electron microscope (TEM) have shown that the nanowires are monocrystalline and their diameters vary from 80 to 300 nm with the average value of approximately 170 nm. Au droplets were found to be anchored at the tips of the nanowires which may indicate that the nanowires followed the Vapor-Liquid-Solid (VLS) mechanism of growth. The conductivity of ß-Ga2O3 NWs increases in the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOC) even in the temperature below 600 °C. The gas sensor based on the synthesized ß-Ga2O3 NWs shows peak sensitivity to 100 ppm of ethanol of 75.1 at 760 °C, while peak sensitivity to 100 ppm of acetone is 27.5 at 690 °C.

Plasma Jets Fabricated in Low-Temperature Cofired Ceramics for Gold Nanoparticles Synthesis.

In this article, we present a development of atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) for modification of liquid solutions. APPJs were fabricated in low temperature cofired ceramics (LTCC) technology. During the measurements, plasma jets worked under various flowing gases, which can be used to produce plasma activated water. In addition, owing to the plasma treatment, it was possible to decrease the time of a synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) without the use of additional hazardous reagents. The mechanism of gold nanoparticles formation in cold nitrogen plasma is also presented.

The Preparation and Characterization of Polyacrylonitrile-Polyaniline (PAN/PANI) Fibers.

The paper presents a method of modifying polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers using polyaniline (PANI). The PAN fibers were doped with polyaniline that was obtained in two different ways. The first consisted of doping a spinning solution with polyaniline that was synthesized in an aqueous solution (PAN/PANI blended), and the second involved the synthesis of polyaniline directly in the spinning solution (PAN/PANI in situ). The obtained fibers were characterized by the methods: X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Analysis of the results showed strong interactions between the nitrile groups of polyacrylonitrile and polyaniline in the PAN/PANI in situ fibers. The results of mechanical strength tests indicated that the performance of the PAN/PANI mixture significantly improved the mechanical parameters of polyaniline, although these fibers had a weaker strength than the unmodified PAN fibers. The fibers obtained as a result of the addition of PANI to PAN were dielectric, whereas the PANI-synthesized in situ were characterized by a mass-specific resistance of 5.47 kΩg/cm².

Multifunctional Nanocomposite Cellulose Fibers Doped in Situ with Silver Nanoparticles.

This paper presents a method for the preparation of nanocomposite cellulose fibers doped with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), as well as the effect of silver nanoparticles on the structure and properties of fibers. The fibers were obtained by an environmentally friendly method using N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) as a solvent, in a non-polluting closed system. Doping with silver nanoparticles was carried out as a direct (in situ) reduction of Ag⁺ ions in the presence of a stabilizing agent during the preparation of the spinning solution. SEM images of the surface and cross section of the fibers showed that the distribution of nanoparticles in the fibers' volume was uniform. The fibers exhibited very good antibacterial properties in relation to Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Candida albicans. Flammability analysis showed that the fibers were subjected to a one-stage combustion process and that the silver nanoparticles reduced the heat release rate (HRR) of the fibers by 36%. TG studies showed that the modification of cellulose fibers with silver nanoparticles promoted the formation of mill scale in the combustion of fibers, which was directly related to the reduction of flammability. Tests of the electrical properties showed that the linear resistance of cellulose fibers containing 3 wt % silver was 108 Ω/cm.

Deposition of Zinc Oxide on Different Polymer Textiles and Their Antibacterial Properties.

A surface modification of polyamide 6 (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP) textiles was performed using zinc oxide to obtain antibacterial layer. ZnO microrods were synthesized on ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) as a nucleus centers by chemical bath deposition (CBD) process. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that wurzite ZnO microrods were obtained on every sample. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Liquid Absorption Capacity (LAC) analysis indicate that the amount and structure of antibacterial layer is dependent on roughness and wettability of textile surface. The rougher and more hydrophilic is the material, the more ZnO were deposited. All studied textiles show significant bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). A possible mechanism and difference in sensitivity between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria to ZnO is discussed. Considering that antibacterial activity of ZnO is caused by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation, an influence of surface to volume ratio and crystalline parameters is also discussed.

Microfluidical Microwave Reactor for Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles.

Microwave treatment can reduce the time of selected syntheses, for instance of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), from several hours to a few minutes. We propose a microfluidic structure for enhancing the rate of chemical reactions using microwave energy. This reactor is designed to control microwave energy with much higher accuracy than in standard devices. Thanks to this, the influence of microwave irradiation on the rate of chemical reactions can be investigated. The reactor consists of a transmission line surrounded by ground metallization. In order to deliver microwave energy to the fluid under test efficiently, matching networks are used and optimized by means of numerical methods. The monolithic device is fabricated in the low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) technology. This material exhibits excellent microwave performance and is resistant to many chemical substances as well as high temperatures. Fabrication of the devices is described in detail. Measurements of microwave parameters are performed and differences between simulation and experiment results are discussed. Finally, the usefulness of the proposed device is proved in exemplary synthesis.

The Relationship between the Mechanism of Zinc Oxide Crystallization and Its Antimicrobial Properties for the Surface Modification of Surgical Meshes.

Surgical meshes were modified with zinc oxide (ZnO) using a chemical bath deposition method (CBD) at 50 °C, 70 °C, or 90 °C, in order to biologically activate them. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mass changes, and X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that at low temperatures Zn(OH)2 was formed, and that this was converted into ZnO with a temperature increase. The antimicrobial activity without light stimulation of the ZnO modified Mersilene™ meshes was related to the species of microorganism, the incubation time, and the conditions of the experiment. Generally, cocci (S. aureus, S. epidermidis) and yeast (C. albicans) were more sensitive than Gram-negative rods (E. coli). The differences in sensitivity of the studied microorganisms to ZnO were discussed. The most active sample was that obtained at 90 °C. The mechanism of antimicrobial action of ZnO was determined by various techniques, such as zeta potential analysis, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, SEM studies, and measurements of Zn(II) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration. Our results confirmed that the generation of free radicals was crucial, which occurs on the surface of crystalline ZnO.

Influence of stabilising agents and pH on the size of SnO2 nanoparticles.

According to recent research, the use of nanoparticles as a gas-sensitive material increases the selectivity and sensitivity and shortens the response time of a sensor. However, the synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles presents many difficulties. The following article presents a simple and inexpensive method for the synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles. The influence of the surfactant and polymer choice on the size of the resulting nanoparticles was investigated and a mechanism describing their interaction was proposed. It was found that stable colloids of SnO2 nanoparticles are formed in the presence of both PEI and Triton X-100 surfactants as stabilising agents. However, an additional factor essential for good stabilisation of the nanoparticles was an appropriate acidity level of the solution. Under optimal conditions, nanoparticles having an average diameter of about 10 nm are reproducibly formed.