A simple one-step NaCl-assisted microwave-solvothermal method has been developed for the preparation of monodisperse α-Fe2O3 mesoporous microspheres. In this approach, Fe(NO3)3 · 9H2O is used as the iron source, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) acts as a surfactant in the presence of NaCl in mixed solvents of H2O and ethanol. Under the present experimental conditions, monodisperse α-Fe2O3 mesoporous microspheres can form via oriented attachment of α-Fe2O3 nanocrystals. One of the advantages of this method is that the size of α-Fe2O3 mesoporous microspheres can be adjusted in the range from ca. 170 to ca. 260 nm by changing the experimental parameters. High photocatalytic activities in the degradation of salicylic acid are observed for α-Fe2O3 mesoporous microspheres with different specific surface areas.

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Monodisperse α-Fe2O3 Mesoporous Microspheres: One-Step NaCl-Assisted Microwave-Solvothermal Preparation, Size Control and Photocatalytic Property

Human skin is a remarkable organ. It consists of an integrated, stretchable network of sensors that relay information about tactile and thermal stimuli to the brain, allowing us to maneuver within our environment safely and effectively. Interest in large-area networks of electronic devices inspired by human skin is motivated by the promise of creating autonomous intelligent robots and biomimetic prosthetics, among other applications. The development of electronic networks comprised of flexible, stretchable, and robust devices that are compatible with large-area implementation and integrated with multiple functionalities is a testament to the progress in developing an electronic skin (e-skin) akin to human skin. E-skins are already capable of providing augmented performance over their organic counterpart, both in superior spatial resolution and thermal sensitivity. They could be further improved through the incorporation of additional functionalities (e.g., chemical and biological sensing) and desired properties (e.g., biodegradability and self-powering). Continued rapid progress in this area is promising for the development of a fully integrated e-skin in the near future.

25th Anniversary Article: The Evolution of Electronic Skin (E-Skin): A Brief History, Design Considerations, and Recent Progress

https://pr.ibs.re.kr/bitstream/8788114/3718/1/Recent%20development_Materials%20Today_Young%20Hee%20Lee.pdf

Recent Development of Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides and Their Applications

High-performance gas sensors prepared using p-type oxide semiconductors such as NiO, CuO, Cr2O3, Co3O4, and Mn3O4 were reviewed. The ionized adsorption of oxygen on p-type oxide semiconductors leads to the formation of hole-accumulation layers (HALs), and conduction occurs mainly along the near-surface HAL. Thus, the chemoresistive variations of undoped p-type oxide semiconductors are lower than those induced at the electron-depletion layers of n-type oxide semiconductors. However, highly sensitive and selective p-type oxide-semiconductor-based gas sensors can be designed either by controlling the carrier concentration through aliovalent doping or by promoting the sensing reaction of a specific gas through doping/loading the sensor material with oxide or noble metal catalysts. The junction between p- and n-type oxide semiconductors fabricated with different contact configurations can provide new strategies for designing gas sensors. p-Type oxide semiconductors with distinctive surface reactivity and oxygen adsorption are also advantageous for enhancing gas selectivity, decreasing the humidity dependence of sensor signals to negligible levels, and improving recovery speed. Accordingly, p-type oxide semiconductors are excellent materials not only for fabricating highly sensitive and selective gas sensors but also valuable additives that provide new functionality in gas sensors, which will enable the development of high-performance gas sensors.

Highly sensitive and selective gas sensors using p-type oxide semiconductors: Overview

Metal oxide-based resistive-type gas sensors are solid-state devices which are widely used in a number of applications from health and safety to energy efficiency and emission control. Nanomaterials such as nanowires, nanorods, and nanoparticles have dominated the research focus in this field due to their large number of surface sites facilitating surface reactions. Previous studies have shown that incorporating two or more metal oxides to form a heterojunction interface can have drastic effects on gas sensor performance, especially the selectivity. Recently, these effects have been amplified by designing heterojunctions on the nano-scale. These designs have evolved from mixed commercial powders and bi-layer films to finely-tuned core–shell and hierarchical brush-like nanocomposites. This review details the various morphological classes currently available for nanostructured metal-oxide based heterojunctions and then presents the dominant electronic and chemical mechanisms that influence the performance of these materials as resistive-type gas sensors. Mechanisms explored include p–n and n–n potential barrier manipulation, n–p–n response type inversions, spill-over effects, synergistic catalytic behavior, and microstructure enhancement. Tables are presented summarizing these works specifically for SnO2, ZnO, TiO2, In2O3, Fe2O3, MoO3, Co3O4, and CdO-based nanocomposites. Recent developments are highlighted and likely future trends are explored.

Nanoscale metal oxide-based heterojunctions for gas sensing: A review

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition on Si3N4/Si substrates have been investigated as resistive gas sensors for NO2. Upon exposure to NO2, the electrical resistance of the CNTs was found to decrease. The maximum variation of resistance to NO2 was found at an operating temperature of around 165 °C. The sensor exhibited high sensitivity to NO2 gas at concentrations as low as 10 ppb, fast response time, and good selectivity. A thermal treatment method, based on repeated heating and cooling of the films, adjusted the resistance of the sensor film and optimized the sensor response to NO2.

Sensors for sub-ppm NO2 gas detection based on carbon nanotube thin films

We report on the fabrication, the morphological, structural, and chemical characterization, and the study of the electrical response to NO 2 and other gases of resistive type gas sensors based on liquid chemically exfoliated (in N-methyl pyrrolidone, NMP) MoS 2 flakes annealed in air either at 150 °C or at 250 °C. The active material has been analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and micro Raman and X-ray core level photoemission spectroscopies. SEM shows that MoS 2 exfoliated flakes are interconnected between electrodes of the sensing device to form percolation paths. Raman spectroscopy of the flakes before annealing demonstrates that the flakes are constituted by crystalline MoS 2 , while, annealing at 250 °C, does not introduce a detectable bulk contamination in the expected form of MoO 3 . The sensor obtained by thermal annealing in air at 150 °C exhibits a peculiar p -type response under exposure to NO 2 . In line with core level spectroscopy evidences, this behavior is potentially ascribed to nitrogen substitutional doping of S vacancies in the MoS 2 surface (nitrogen atoms being likely provided by the intercalated NMP). Thermal annealing the MoS 2 flakes in air at 250 °C irreversibly sets an n -type behavior of the gas sensing device, with a NO 2 detection limit of 20 ppb. This behavior is assigned, in line with core level spectroscopy data, to a significant presence of S vacancies in the MoS 2 annealed flakes and to the surface co-existence of MoO 3 arising from the partial oxidation of the flakes surface. Both p- and n -type sensors have been demonstrated to be sensitive also to relative humidity. The n -type sensor shows good electrical response under H 2 exposure.

Response to NO2 and other gases of resistive chemically exfoliated MoS2-based gas sensors

In this work a combined experimental and theoretical study on carbon nanotube (CNT) based system for gas sensing applications is reported. Carbon nanotubes thin films have been deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition on Si3N4/Si substrates provided with Pt electrodes. Microstructural features as determined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy highlight the growth of defective tubular carbon structures. The electrical resistivity of the CNT film shows a semiconductinglike temperature dependence and a p-type response with decreasing electrical resistance upon exposure to NO2 gas (100 ppb). No response has been found by exposing the film to CO gas in the temperature range between 25 and 250 °C. In order to obtain a theoretical validation of the experimental results, the equilibrium position, charge transfer, and density of states are calculated from first principles for the CNT+CO and CNT+NO2 systems. Our spin-unrestricted density functional...

NO2 and CO gas adsorption on carbon nanotubes: Experiment and theory

TiO2 sol–gel films doped with gold nanoparticles are used as both optical and conductometric sensors for the detection of CO and H2. Tests performed at 360 °C show for the first time CO- and H2-induced reversible variations in the optical absorption of thin TiO2/Au sol–gel films. The absorbance changes are strongly dependent on both the testing wavelength and the film microstructure. Together with the sensing dynamics observed through an electric interface, it is possible to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the detection of both gases. The presence of H2 elicits almost ideal, step-like dynamic responses using conductometric detection.

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Gold Nanoparticle-Doped TiO2 Semiconductor Thin Films: Gas Sensing Properties†

Graphene and its related materials have attracted much interest in sensing applications because of their optimized ratio between active surface and bulk volume. In particular, several forms of oxidized graphene have been studied to optimize the sensing efficiency, sometimes moving away from practical solutions to boost performance. In this paper, we propose a practical, high-sensitivity, and easy to fabricate gas sensor based on high quality graphene oxide (GO), and we give the rationale to the high performance of the device. The device is fabricated by drop-casting water-dispersed single-layer GO flakes on standard 30 μm spaced interdigitated Pt electrodes. The exceptional size of the GO flakes (27 μm mean size and ∼500 μm maximum size) allows single GO flake to bridge adjacent electrodes. A typical p-type response is observed by testing the device in both reducing and oxidizing environments. The specific response to NO2 is studied by varying the operating temperature and the gas concentration. Sensing a...

https://www.isof.cnr.it/sites/default/files/commesse/MAFO/prezioso_2013.pdf

Carlo Cantalini

Papers

Sensors for sub-ppm NO2 gas detection based on carbon nanotube thin films

Response to NO2 and other gases of resistive chemically exfoliated MoS2-based gas sensors

NO2 and CO gas adsorption on carbon nanotubes: Experiment and theory

Gold Nanoparticle-Doped TiO2 Semiconductor Thin Films: Gas Sensing Properties†

Graphene Oxide as a Practical Solution to High Sensitivity Gas Sensing