Size-Controlled Synthesis of ZnSnO₃ Cubic Crystallites at Low Temperatures and Their HCHO-Sensing Properties

Abstract

Uniform and monodisperse ZnSnO 3 cubic crystallites were prepared via a solution process involving the reaction of zinc sulfate and sodium stannate at a reaction temperature as low as 0 °C without any surfactant. The size was readily controlled from 40 to 600 nm by varying the reaction temperature. The possible formation mechanism of cubic crystallites was attributed to a nucleation assembly process. The as-fabricated sensors based on ZnSnO 3 cubic crystallites showed high sensitivity, fast response, and short recovery times toward HCHO gas. And as the particle-size of ZnSnO 3 cubic crystallites decrease, the sensitivity of gas sensors based on them increases and the recovery time shorten rapidly. The detection limit of ZnSnO 3 cubic crystallites sensor can reach as little as lower than one per million for HCHO. The performance of a home-built ZnSnO 3 cubic crystallites sensor was even better than the competing SnO 2 and In 2 O 3 sensor, making this material interesting for sensor devices.