Novel Method for Synthesis of ZnO Nanorods and Its Applications as Highly Selective Chlorine Sensors Working at Low Temperature

摘要

ZnO nanorods were synthesized by a new and simple ultrasonicated pulsed microwave method. These rods have the diameter of about 25 nm and length of few micrometers. Polyvinyl alcohol was used as stabilizing agent. The ZnO nanorods were characterized by the UV-visible spectroscopy, the peak was obtained at 363.22 nm, FT-IR predicts the hydroxyl group of polyvinyl alcohol adsorbed on the surface of ZnO nanoparticle. Particle size and lattice parameters were calculated from XRD. The structure of nano-ZnO is hexagonal. TEM image supports the rod type structure. Thick films of ZnO nanorods were observed to be highly sensitive and selective to 300 ppm of Cl_2 gas at low temperature (100℃). The effects of surface microstructure and particle size on the sensor response, selective nature of the sensor, response and recovery of the sensor in the presence of various gases were studied and discussed. The better performance could be attributed to the smaller particle size of ZnO nanorods.