Fabrication of self-assembled hierarchical flowerlike zinc stannate thin film and its application as liquefied petroleum gas sensor

Abstract

In the present communication, hierarchical flowerlike zinc stannate architectures have been fabricated using sol–gel spin coating process. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the formation of zinc stannate with minimum crystallite size ∼7nm. The particle size distribution was determined with the help of acoustic spectroscopy using acoustic particle sizer (APS-100). Surface morphology exhibits the formation of porous hierarchical structure having a number of gas adsorption sites. Optical characterizations were recorded using UV–visible absorption spectroscopy and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. Thermal properties were studied using a hot disk thermal constants analyzer (TPS-500). Further, the fabricated thin film was investigated with the exposure of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at room temperature (25°C). The maximum sensitivity of the sensor was found 2.5. The response and recovery times were found ∼180 and 240s, respectively. Maximum percentage sensor response of the sensor was 143. Improved sensitivity and percentage sensor response, small response time and good reproducibility identify that the fabricated LPG sensor is challenging for the detection of LPG at room temperature.