Fanli Meng

Bio: Fanli Meng is an academic researcher from Northeastern University (China). The author has contributed to research in topics: Scanning electron microscope & Oxide. The author has an hindex of 42, co-authored 150 publications receiving 5554 citations. Previous affiliations of Fanli Meng include University of California, Los Angeles & Hefei Institutes of Physical Science.

Metal Oxide Nanostructures and Their Gas Sensing Properties: A Review

Abstract: Metal oxide gas sensors are predominant solid-state gas detecting devices for domestic, commercial and industrial applications, which have many advantages such as low cost, easy production, and compact size However, the performance of such sensors is significantly influenced by the morphology and structure of sensing materials, resulting in a great obstacle for gas sensors based on bulk materials or dense films to achieve highly-sensitive properties Lots of metal oxide nanostructures have been developed to improve the gas sensing properties such as sensitivity, selectivity, response speed, and so on Here, we provide a brief overview of metal oxide nanostructures and their gas sensing properties from the aspects of particle size, morphology and doping When the particle size of metal oxide is close to or less than double thickness of the space-charge layer, the sensitivity of the sensor will increase remarkably, which would be called "small size effect", yet small size of metal oxide nanoparticles will be compactly sintered together during the film coating process which is disadvantage for gas diffusion in them In view of those reasons, nanostructures with many kinds of shapes such as porous nanotubes, porous nanospheres and so on have been investigated, that not only possessed large surface area and relatively mass reactive sites, but also formed relatively loose film structures which is an advantage for gas diffusion Besides, doping is also an effective method to decrease particle size and improve gas sensing properties Therefore, the gas sensing properties of metal oxide nanostructures assembled by nanoparticles are reviewed in this article The effect of doping is also summarized and finally the perspectives of metal oxide gas sensor are given

SnO2/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite for the Simultaneous Electrochemical Detection of Cadmium(II), Lead(II), Copper(II), and Mercury(II): An Interesting Favorable Mutual Interference

Abstract: A well-known gas sensing material SnO2 in combination with reduced graphene oxide was used in heavy metal ions detection for the first time. This work reports the detailed study on the SnO2/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite modified glass carbon electrode, which could be used for the simultaneous and selective electrochemical detection of ultratrace Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II) in drinking water. The SnO2/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite electrode was characterized voltammetrically using redox couples (Fe(CN)63–/4–), complemented with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) has been used for the detection of Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II). The detection limit (3σ method) of the SnO2/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite modified GCE toward Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II) is 1.015 × 10–10 M, 1.839 × 10–10 M, 2.269 × 10–10 M, and 2.789 × 10–10 M, respectively, which is very well below the guideline value given by the World Health Organ...

Graphene-based hybrids for chemiresistive gas sensors

Abstract: Gas sensors can detect combustible, explosive and toxic gases, and have been widely used in safety monitoring and process control in residential buildings, industries and mines. Recently, graphene-based hybrids were widely investigated as chemiresistive gas sensors with high sensitivity and selectivity. This systematic review is therefore timely and necessary to evaluate the success of graphene-based hybrids in gas detection and to identify their challenges. We review the sensing principles and the synthesis process of the graphene-based hybrids with noble metals, metal oxides and conducting polymers to achieve better understanding and design of novel gas sensors. Our review will assist researchers to understand the evolution and the challenges of graphene-based hybrids, and create interest in development of gas-sensing techniques.

Low-temperature formaldehyde gas sensors based on NiO-SnO2 heterojunction microflowers assembled by thin porous nanosheets

Abstract: NiO-SnO2 heterojunction microflowers assembled by thin porous nanosheets were successfully synthesized through a facile one-step hydrothermal route. The structural and composition information were examined by means of X-ray diffractometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller nitrogen adsorption-desorption. The formaldehyde gas sensing properties were systematically investigated between the pure and NiO-SnO2 microflowers. The experiment results showed that NiO-SnO2 microflower sensor displayed the higher response at a lower operating temperature region compared to pure SnO2 microflower sensor. Meanwhile, introducing NiO obviously reduced operating temperature. Especially, the sensor utilizing 5 mol% NiO-SnO2 microflowers showed significantly enhanced sensing performances to formaldehyde including the higher responses, lower operating temperatures, lower detecting limit level, quick response/recovery characteristics, good reproducibility and stability, and superior selectivity. The enhanced sensing properties were probably attributed to the formation of p–n heterojunctions at interface and the catalytic effect of NiO, which significantly enlarges surface depletion region and increases potential barrier. Our studies provide a facile synthesis process, which could be developed to synthesize other semiconductor oxide composites, and provide a potential material for fabricating high performance sensors.

Novel porous single-crystalline ZnO nanosheets fabricated by annealing ZnS(en)0.5 (en = ethylenediamine) precursor. Application in a gas sensor for indoor air contaminant detection.

Abstract: Novel single-crystalline ZnO nanosheets with porous structure have been fabricated by annealing ZnS(en)0.5 (en = ethylenediamine) complex precursor. The morphology and structure observations performed by field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FESEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) indicate that numerous mesopores with a diameter of about 26.1 nm distribute all through each nanosheet with a high density. The transformation of structure and composition of samples obtained during thermal treatment processes were investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD), x-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption spectroscopy. The formation mechanism of the porous structure is proposed. For indoor air contaminant detection in which formaldehyde and ammonia are employed as target gases, the as-prepared ZnO nanosheets were applied for the fabrication of gas sensors. It was found that the as-fabricated sensors not only exhibit highly sensitive performance, e.g., high gas-sensing responses, short response and recovery time, but also possess significant long-term stability. It is indicated that these ZnO nanostructures could promisingly be applied in electronic devices for environmental evaluation.

Recent Advances in Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials

Abstract: Since the discovery of mechanically exfoliated graphene in 2004, research on ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials has grown exponentially in the fields of condensed matter physics, material science, chemistry, and nanotechnology. Highlighting their compelling physical, chemical, electronic, and optical properties, as well as their various potential applications, in this Review, we summarize the state-of-art progress on the ultrathin 2D nanomaterials with a particular emphasis on their recent advances. First, we introduce the unique advances on ultrathin 2D nanomaterials, followed by the description of their composition and crystal structures. The assortments of their synthetic methods are then summarized, including insights on their advantages and limitations, alongside some recommendations on suitable characterization techniques. We also discuss in detail the utilization of these ultrathin 2D nanomaterials for wide ranges of potential applications among the electronics/optoelectronics, electrocat...

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

Abstract: 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.

Engineering Carbon Materials from the Hydrothermal Carbonization Process of Biomass

Abstract: Energy shortage, environmental crisis, and developing customer demands have driven people to find facile, low-cost, environmentally friendly, and nontoxic routes to produce novel functional materials that can be commercialized in the near future. Amongst various techniques, the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process of biomass (either of isolated carbohydrates or crude plants) is a promising candidate for the synthesis of novel carbon-based materials with a wide variety of potential applications. In this Review, we will discuss various synthetic routes towards such novel carbon-based materials or composites via the HTC process of biomass. Furthermore, factors that influence the carbonization process will be analyzed and the special chemical/physical properties of the final products will be discussed. Despite the lack of a clear mechanism, these novel carbonaceous materials have already shown promising applications in many fields such as carbon fixation, water purification, fuel cell catalysis, energy storage, CO(2) sequestration, bioimaging, drug delivery, and gas sensors. Some of the most promising examples will also be discussed here, demonstrating that the HTC process can rationally design a rich family of carbonaceous and hybrid functional carbon materials with important applications in a sustainable fashion.

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

Abstract: 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.

Semiconductor metal oxide gas sensors: A review

Abstract: This review paper encompasses a detailed study of semiconductor metal oxide (SMO) gas sensors. It provides for a detailed comparison of SMO gas sensors with other gas sensors, especially for ammonia gas sensing. Different parameters which affect the performance (sensitivity, selectivity and stability) of SMO gas sensors are discussed here under. This paper also gives an insight about the dopant or impurity induced variations in the SMO materials used for gas sensing. It is concluded that dopants enhance the properties of SMOs for gas sensing applications by changing their microstructure and morphology, activation energy, electronic structure or band gap of the metal oxides. In some cases, dopants create defects in SMOs by generating oxygen vacancy or by forming solid solutions. These defects enhance the gas sensing properties. Different nanostructures (nanowires, nanotubes, heterojunctions), other than nanopowders have also been studied in this review. At the end, examples of SMOs are given to illustrate the potential use of different SMO materials for gas sensing.