Synthesis, Characterization and Gas Sensing Study of ZnO-SnO2 Nanocomposite Thin Films

Thin nanocomposite films composed of ZnO and SnO2 at 0.5–5 mol.% concentrations were synthesized by a new solid-phase low-temperature pyrolysis under the developed protocols. This hetero-oxide material was thoroughly studied X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) Auger (AES) techniques to be compared with electrical gas-sensing properties. We have found that poly-nanocrystal structure crystals characteristic grain sizes 10–15 nm range. When comparing chemiresistive response varied tin dioxide content, sample Sn:Zn optimum ratio taken as 1:99 yields 1.5-fold improvement upon 5–50 ppm NO2 exposure 200 °C. argue these remarkable changes matured from both reducing intergrain potential barrier down 0.58 eV increasing concentration anionic vacancies this rational composite. The results demonstrate is powerful technique for adjusting functional properties film via modifying oxide components.