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

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 19-28nm according to the XRD calculations and TEM observations. The gas sensitivity of the homemade devices based on Sb-doped ZnO nanoparticles towards O2 and CO2 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 O2 gas at 93:7wt% of Zn:Sb.