Crystallite Size Distribution Research Articles

Accelerated recrystallization of nanocrystalline films as a manifestation of the inner size effect of the diffusion coefficient

The work is devoted to the study of recrystallization occurring during short-term annealing of 100 nm thick polycrystalline films of copper and silver. It is found that in copper films deposited by the method of thermal evaporation onto a substrate at room temperature, a bimodal crystallite size distribution with maxima at 15 and 35 nm is observed. The bimodal distribution in copper films is preserved during annealing, which leads to a shift of both peaks of the crystallite size distribution histograms to the larger sizes region. In contrast to Cu, even in as-deposited Ag films, besides the nanosized fraction, micron-sized crystallites are present. Apparently, these grains are formed due to the phenomenon of self-annealing and weakly evolve during heating owing to grain growth stagnation. The nanosized fraction in as-deposited Ag films is represented by crystallites with the most probable size of 25 nm, which increases to 50 nm as a result of short-term annealing at the temperature of 250 °C. The grain-boundary diffusion coefficient was determined, which is more than 10−18 m2/s for both films of metals. The obtained value indicates a multiple intensification of self-diffusion processes in films, the thickness of which allows us to refer them to macroscopic sample.

Time-Dependent Multi-Particle Model Describing the Hydrogen Absorption of Nanocrystalline Magnesium Powders: A Case Study

Classical kinetic models describing the hydrogen absorption of nanocrystalline metallic hydrides generally do not involve any parameter related to the change in the crystallite size during the hydrogenation at constant temperature. In the present investigation, ball-milled nanocrystalline Mg powders exhibiting lognormal crystallite size distribution have been subjected to hydrogen absorption in a Sievert-type apparatus. Partially absorbed states were achieved by interrupting the hydrogenation cycle at different hydrogen content, i.e., when 15%, 50%, and 90% of Mg powder transformed to MgH2. The evolution of the characteristic size of the nucleating MgH2 phase was determined from X-ray diffraction analysis. Considering the crystallite size distribution of the as-milled powder agglomerate as well as the growth during the isothermal hydrogenation process, a time-dependent multi-particle reaction function ∝CV¯t;R(t) was developed. It was shown unambiguously for this case study that the measured hydrogen absorption curve of the ball-milled Mg powder shows the best correlation with this model when it is compared to classical kinetic functions or the previously developed multi-particle reaction function excluding the change in the average crystallite size during hydrogenation.

Understanding the Subsurface Microstructure and Thermal Behavior of Model Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Alloys Through FIB_SEM and TEM

AbstractA potential but an underexplored application of FIB_SEM is its ability to image the subsurface microstructure and capability for an associated chemical analysis. In this article, agglomerated microstructures of two model oxide dispersion strengthened alloy systems, consisting of ZrO2 and Y2O3 dispersions, are evaluated to understand its elevated temperature behaviors. The systems under evaluation are relevant as candidate nuclear structural materials for next-generation fast breeder reactors, and FIB_SEM technique is effectively used along with TEM and EDS for a comprehensive understanding of the material microstructure, and the results are discussed. Distinct microstructures are observed for the two systems with a difference in crystallite size distribution and presence of micron-sized dispersoids in Y2O3. The varied behavior of dispersoids is discussed in terms of its pre-annealing microstructures, and the superiority of ZrO2 over Y2O3 as a dispersoid for ODS alloys is emphasized.

Optimization of Luminescence due to SHI Irradiation on Cr‐Doped BiFeO3 (BFO) Thin Films

AbstractThis study reporting tuning of optical luminescence in Cr‐doped BiFeO3 (BCFO) thin films deposited on glass substrate using spin coater and irradiated with Au+9 (100 MeV) swift heavy ions (SHI) at fluence 1013 ions cm−2. The modification of these thin films has been carried out in its structural and optical properties. An X‐ray diffraction spectra of BCFO thin films confirms rhombohedral perovskite structure with crystallite size distribution of 6–10 nm. Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectra confirms bonding of Cr in BiFeO3 thin films, however scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirm the homogeneous been found to be improved with the band gap tuning in between 2.75 and 2.59 eV via SHI irradiation as per the observations from optical absorption spectra. The purpose of the present study is to synthesize and characterize Cr doped BiFeO3 thin films by a simple spin‐coating method and investigates photovoltaic properties modification due to SHI irradiation for photovoltaic devices.

Impact of ECAP processing on dislocation density and subgrain size in a ti6al4V alloy prepared by direct energy deposition

Ti6Al4V alloy billets were additively manufactured by direct energy deposition and then equal channel angularly pressed (ECAPed) at 700 °C. The originally prepared α′ martensite microstructure was completely converted to an equiaxed fine grain structure during ECAP processing. The α′ martensite decomposed into α + β dual phase structure. The dislocation density in the deposited and ECAPed samples was measured by X-ray profile analysis in samples of two orientations. The dislocation density estimated in the deposition plane was found to be higher than that estimated perpendicularly. This difference is probably a consequence of the internal stresses generated in the samples during the deposition process. A similar anisotropy in dislocation density and crystallite size was found in the ECAPed samples. Lattice constants were measured for the α′ martensite and α phase of the ECAPed alloy. The crystallite size distribution was found to be moderately different for samples cut parallel and perpendicular to the extrusion direction.

Significance of diffraction peak shapes in determining crystallite size distribution: a peak shape analysis procedure for pseudo-Voigt profiles and its application

The width (or breadth) and shape of a diffraction peak are two important characteristics to describe a peak profile. These features are directly associated with the microstructural (size and strain) properties of a material. It is important to separate the contributions of crystallite size and microstrain from the diffraction peak profiles in order to establish their correlation with the physical properties of the sample. While procedures to deconvolve the widths of a diffraction peak profile are extensively documented in the literature, the shape part of the peak profile is usually ignored. In the present work an approach for a quantitative estimation of the peak shape contribution made by crystallite size is discussed to complement the information available via the existing breadth-based methods (BBMs). A relationship between the shape of a diffraction peak profile and the crystallite size distribution for a nanomaterial is presented, which was not hitherto available in the literature. It is shown that the commonly observed difference between crystallite sizes obtained using the Scherrer equation considering two different definitions of peak width,i.e.full width at half-maximum and integral breadth, is also associated with this peak shape parameter. Thus, knowledge of the peak shape has a vital role in microstructural understanding. Therefore, in this work a procedure to isolate the shape part of a diffraction peak profile is described in connection with the existing BBMs used for microstructural analysis. This study further aims to utilize the information on these peak shapes to provide comprehensive details of the effect of crystallite size by considering a log-normal distribution to complement the BBMs. Applications of this approach are shown using several worked examples of practical situations from the literature.

Lotus-root-like titanium dioxide photocatalyst with a hierarchical micro-/meso-/macroporous structure

Titanium dioxide agglomerate with a hierarchical micro-/meso-/macroporous structure was synthesized by a very simple method using only titanium alkoxide and water as raw materials. The microscopic morphology of the agglomerate looked like a lotus-root including cylindrical macropores with sizes of 1–10 μm in diameter penetrating into the agglomerate. The agglomerate was composed of TiO2 nanoparticles that form micropores smaller than 1 nm and mesopores smaller than 10 nm. The agglomerate was heat-treated at 300–700oC for 1 h to modify its crystalline phase, crystallite size, and pore size distribution. Anatase-type agglomerates with a micro-/meso-/macroporous structure having specific surface areas of 35–405 m2/g showed high humidity buffering performance and high photocatalytic activity. Both properties are equal to or higher than each of the commercial products. Furthermore, they showed high hydrophilicity with a water contact angle below 20 degrees even before UV light irradiation.

Magneto-structural characterization of different kinds of magnetic nanoparticles

Using well-established measurement techniques like transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), small and wide angle X-ray scattering (SAXS, WAXS), susceptometry, and magnetorelaxometry, the distribution of the physical and magnetic size (magnetic moments) and magnetic anisotropy of a variety of structurally different magnetic nanoparticle samples (MNPs) is analyzed and compared. A term which accounts for the presence of weak magnetic areas (WMAs) within the MNPs was introduced to the widespread analysis model for M(H) data, enabling a consistent interpretation of the data in most of the systems. A comparison of the size distributions as obtained for the physical and the magnetic diameter suggests a multidomain structure for three single core systems under investigation, in all probability evoked by the presence of a wustite phase, as identified by WAXS.Analyzing the relationship d < dm < dc between the average single core diameter d, the effective magnetic (domain) size dm and the cluster diameter dc quantitatively, two qualitatively different magnetic structures in multicore MNP (MCMNP) systems were identified: (i) The magnetic moments of single cores within the MCMNP of fluidMAG tend to build flux closure structures, driven by dipole–dipole interaction. (ii) The magnetic behavior of Resovist® was attributed to the presence of domain sizes of about 12 nm within MCMNP, exceeding the single core diameters of 5 nm. Thereby, WAXS revealed a bimodal crystallite size distribution suggesting a crystallite merging process within the MCMNP. The value of the effective magnetic moment of these MCMNP could be explained within the presented “random moment cluster model” (RMCM).We conclude that the combination of physical and magnetic structure parameters obtained from complementary measurement methods allows a reliable assessment of the magnetic structure of single and multicore MNPs.

Steady state population balance modelling of precipitation processes: Nucleation, growth and size-dependent agglomeration

In this work a numerical methodology to solve the steady state Population Balance Equation (PBE) is developed. Three crystallisation mechanisms are included, namely: nucleation, size-independent growth and size-dependent loose agglomeration. The numerical method is based on the discretisation of the crystal size as distributed variable. In order to describe the loose agglomeration, the numerical methodology solves two PBE: one including the nucleation and growth mechanisms and one accounting for the agglomeration process. From the first PBE, liquid phase composition, supersaturation, developed crystal surface and Crystallite Size Distribution (CSD) are obtained. Similarly, the second PBE leads to the Agglomerate Size Distribution (ASD). The study of the size-dependant agglomeration kernel induces an additional numerical difficulty due to the dependency of both PBE and agglomeration kernel on the particle size. An accelerated fixed point algorithm based on the crossed secant method is adapted to overcome the difficulty and accurately solve the agglomeration PBE. The oxalic precipitation of uranium is simulated using this numerical methodology. First, the experimental results of a reference case are compared with the numerical predictions in terms of particle size distribution, mean size, mass fraction and moments. Then, the operating conditions are varied in order to test the algorithm robustness and performances. In all cases, the crossed secant method ensures the size-dependent agglomeration PBE solution and properly predicts the ASD. The developed numerical methodology predicts the mean particle size under the experimental uncertainty in a reasonable computation time and number of iterations.

Investigation of electrodeposited copper layer with island twinning structure on Zr substrate

ABSTRACT In this study, the surface properties of copper layers on a zirconium substrate were investigated. The copper deposits with thicknesses of 25, 50, and 100 μm were formed using the electroplating method. The evaluations of coating thickness, surface morphology, crystallite size, and grain distribution were performed by using the relevant analytical equipment. The results showed that by increasing the thickness of the copper layer, a more uniform cauliflower morphology was obtained. Also, by increasing the thickness of the copper deposit, the crystallite size was decreased from 70 to 20 nanometers and the strain energy was decreased from 2.9 × 10−3 J to 6.5 × 10−3 J. The copper layer with a thickness of 100 μm was the most wear resistance compared to other coatings. The highest hardness value, uniform morphology, and more twin islands in different areas were the main reasons for improving the wear resistance of the copper layer with a thickness of 100 μm.

Dielectric properties and crystallite size distribution of modified lead-free sodium-bismuth titanate ceramics

Influence of (K0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 (KBT) dopants on crystal and microstructure, ferroelectric and dielectric properties of ceramic composition from morphotropic phase boundary in the system (1–x–y)(Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 – xBaTiO3 – y (K0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 (x = 0.06, y = 0–0.15) additionally modified by ZnO additives was studied using a complex of methods. Changes from 42.8 nm to 62.6 nm of the volume-weighted crystallite size distribution function G(L) corresponding to coherent scattering regions were observed. The microstructure and the second harmonic generation data indicated a change in the relative content of polar nanoregions in tetragonal nonpolar matrix. Decrease in temperatures of phase transitions T m and T d was observed with KBT concentration increasing.

In Ukrainian

The study of the microstructure of nanocrystalline substances by the method of powder diffractometry based on the physical broadening of diffraction lines involves the use of diffraction data of standard polycrystalline samples, preferably, one nature with the test samples with the size of crystallites exceeding 100 nm. In the absence of such standards, researchers resort to the existing dependence of the width of diffraction peaks on the angle of diffraction for the standard sample or the construction of theoretical instrumental profiles due to the collimation parameters of x -rays used. In this paper a comparative study of the microstructure of nanocrystalline titanium oxide (anatase), tin oxide iron oxide (magnetite), synthesized in various ways, using several methods of analysis of powder diffractograms, was carried out. To evaluate the average crystallite sizes of the studied oxides, the Sherer equation with a graphical method of determining the width of instrumental profile and the influence of dublet radiation was chosen. Methods of profile analysis of diffraction spectra, such as a method of whole profile modeling of powder diffractograms (WPPM) and the chord method, were used to construct crystallite size distribution functions and determine the average size of crystallites of the oxides. Modeling of instrumental diffraction profiles of titanium, tin and iron oxides was performed using X -rays collimation parameters determinated using a polycrystalline silicon as standard and pseudo -Voigt function, which best describes the form of diffraction peak. The crystallite size distribution functions were constructed by means of WPPM and chords methods based on the instrumental profiles. It has been found that the values of average size of the crystallites, obtained by the methods of Sherer, WPPM and chords, differ within the one order of magnitude for each oxide. Thus, for titanium oxide this value is within 12-18 nm, for tin oxide within 7-10 nm, the iron oxide of iron within 9-12 nm. Analysis of size crystallite distribution functions and average sizes of the crystallites of the studied oxides showed the advisability of using different methods of studying microstructure to clarify the true type of the size crystallites distribution and establish its connection with the conditions and the synthesis method.

Effect of substrate and annealing temperature on the physical properties of the thin films of SnSe2-SnSe alloy

Thin films of SnSe2-SnSe alloy were deposited at substrate temperatures 300 and 473 K by thermal evaporation. The 473 K as-deposited layers were re-grown on annealing from 523 to 623 K. The films show mixed phases of hexagonal SnSe2 and orthorhombic SnSe and display corresponding vibrational modes. The unit cell parameters and axes strain of the layers vary and show crystallite size distributions with changes in annealing temperature (Ta). Moreover, the film smoothness increases at elevated temperatures. The films as-deposited at 300 K exhibit direct bandgaps (Eg) of 1.15 and 1.52 eV. Further, the Eg values of 473 K layers vary from 1.47 to 1.56 eV with a change in temperature from 523 to 623 K and show an absorption coefficient (α) ≥ 5 × 104 cm−1. In addition, the refractive index (n) decreases, and optical mobility (μopt) increases with an increase in Ta. The above optical response indicates the films to be optically active and suitable in photonic devices in the visible and NIR portion of the EM spectrum. The PL emission peaks were observed at 805.1 and 1064.22 nm, which confirmed the presence of direct bandgaps of the SnSe2 and SnSe phases.

Dislocations and crystallite size distribution of cadmium oxide thin films synthesized by spray pyrolysis technique

Cadmium oxide (CdO) thin films have been successfully deposited on amorphous glass substrates by spray pyrolysis technique at a temperature, 573 °K using aqueous solution of cadmium nitrate 4-Hydrate powder with a concentration of 0.1 M. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies have revealed that the films exhibit cubic crystal structure. The modified Williamson–Hall and Warren–Averbach methods are used successfully for analyzing the XRD line profile for determining the crystallite size, dislocation densities and crystallite size distribution in CdO thin films. The crystallite size (D) and integral breadths (d) (D = 44.139 nm and d = 32.237 nm) are obtained by the modified Williamson Hall, while the area-weighted average grain sizes and volume-weighted obtained of modified Warren–Averbach method are xvol=46,06nm andxarea=29,7nm, respectively. The size parameter (Lo), dislocation density (ρ), effective outer cut-off radii (Re) and dislocation arrangement parameter (μ) gotten of Warren–Averbach are 35.53 nm, 2.0 × 1015 m−2, 7 nm and 0.31 nm, respectively. The particle size distribution (x) derived of XRD and estimated of size parameter is the size distribution function f(x) of log-normal.

Hysteresis in Heat Capacity of MWCNTs Caused by Interface Behavior.

The paper is concerned with the study of structural disorder as well as the emergence and causes of heat capacity hysteresis in multiwall carbon nanotubes. The investigation methods are X-ray diffraction analysis, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and calorimetric tests: thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and the thermal relaxation method for heat capacity hysteresis. Multiwall carbon nanotubes are shown to be composed of one or several types of zigzag–armchair domains. The domain structure of nanotube samples is responsible for the generation of uniaxial elastic microstrains and viscoelastic bending strains at domain interfaces. The thermomechanical behavior of interfaces is the chief cause of temperature hysteresis of heat capacity. The number of hystereses corresponds to the number of domain types in the structure, and values of hysteresis are determined by the crystallite size, thermal conductivity, and normal temperature distribution of strain. The found mechanism of heat capacity hysteresis can be helpful in preventing jumps in thermal properties and managing thermal memory in multiwall carbon nanotubes.

Rate Capability of LiFePO4 Cathodes and the Shape Engineering of Their Anisotropic Crystallites

For cuboid and ellipsoid crystallites of LiFePO4 powders, by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and microscopic (TEM) studies, it is possible to determine the anisotropic parameters of the crystallite size distribution functions. These parameters were used to describe the cathode rate capability within the model of averaging the diffusion coefficient D over the length of the crystallite columns along the [010] direction. A LiFePO4 powder was chosen for testing the developed model, consisting of big cuboid and small ellipsoid crystallites (close to them). When analyzing the parts of big and small rate capabilities, the fitting values D = 2.1 and 0.3 nm2/s were obtained for cuboids and ellipsoids, respectively. When analyzing the results of cyclic voltammetry using the Randles-Sevcik equation and the total area of projections of electrode crystallites on their (010) plane, slightly different values were obtained, D = 0.9 ± 0.15 and 0.5 ± 0.15 nm2/s, respectively. We believe that these inconsistencies can be considered quite acceptable, since both methods of determining D have obvious sources of error. However, the developed method has a clearly lower systematic error due to the ability to actually take into account the shape and statistics of crystallites, and it is also useful for improving the accuracy of the Randles-Sevcik equation. It has also been demonstrated that the shape engineering of crystallites, among other tasks, can increase the cathode capacity by 15% by increasing their size correlation coefficients.

Screening of optimum composition of superparamagnetic nanocomposite microparticles modified with various layered double hydroxides for phosphorus removal

Superparamagnetic nanocomposite microparticles (NCMPs) modified with various layered double hydroxides (LDHs) (MgFe, MgAl and their Zr-doped equivalents) were investigated for phosphorus (P) removal. Screening of optimum composition was performed based on the P removal performance of NCMP@LDH particles as well as their magnetic separability in a flow-through column as a function of NCMP content (100–1000 mg) and stability as a function of LDH content (20–100%). The results showed that except for NCMP@MgFe-Zr, all the other particles exhibited a partial dissolution of LDH components at each of the examined LDH contents. However, NCMP@MgFe-Zr showed no dissolution up to a LDH content of 60% at all, whereas a partial dissolution occurred at a LDH content of 80 and 100%. Results of magnetic separability test revealed that the NCMP@MgFe-Zr composed of 500 mg magnetic particle (NCMP) and 60% LDH was separated from the solution with a separation efficiency of 96.9%, while lower NCMP contents resulted in lower separation efficiencies. P removal efficiency and specific removal capacity of the NCMP@MgFe-Zr with the optimized composition was found to be 18.5% and 53.1 mg/g, respectively. The crystal structure, chemical composition, surface morphology, crystallite size and particle size distribution, functional groups and magnetic properties of the NCMP and NCMP@MgFe-Zr particles were confirmed by various characterization analysis. The observed results clearly demonstrates that the NCMP@MgFe-Zr with the optimized composition remained stable during the removal experiments and enabled the removal of P under the conditions of acidic pH and relatively high P concentration without LDH dissolution.

XANES and XRR study on phase evolution of TiO2 films developed using HiPIMS

High power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) is one of the recent advanced techniques for the development of high quality TiO2 thin films. Due to the formation of high energetic ions in the discharge, HiPIMS can produce various crystalline phases of TiO2 (anatase and rutile) with low roughness as compared to conventional direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS). This work emphasizes on the effect of oxygen partial pressure in the evolution of phases and oxidation states of TiO2 films deposited using HiPIMS along with a comparative study against DCMS grown films under similar oxygen environment. TiO2 thin films were prepared with DCMS and HiPIMS, as a function of oxygen content in the sputter gas flow. Thickness, density and roughness were calculated using XRR fitting and analysis. It was observed that HiPIMS deposited films were smoother and denser than DCMS grown films. Crystallite sizes of HiPIMS deposited films were significantly lower than DCMS. Phase growth analyses were performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy of the Ti L2,3 and O K-edges) spectroscopy. In HiPIMS grown films, the increase in O2 partial pressure changed the phase from rutile to mixed and then to anatase phase whereas only rutile and mixed phases were detected in DCMS grown film under similar oxygen environment. HiPIMS developed films were smooth, uniform free from cracks as observed in FESEM and Atomic Force microscope (AFM) morphological images. Lognormal crystallite size distribution values decreased with increasing O2 partial pressure. Crystal field splitting values of (Δo) between ∼1.9 and 2.2 eV indicate crystalline phase formation by XANES Ti L2,3-edge analysis. These findings point to better crystalline growth TiO2 thin films as compared to DC-MS. HiPIMS grown films shows phase transformation of rutile into mix phase and anatase with increase in oxygen partial pressure.

Sol-Gel Route for the Synthesis of CoFe2-x Er x O4 Nanocrystalline Ferrites and the Investigation of Structural and Magnetic Properties for Magnetic Device Applications.

This study reports the formation of Er-doped nanocrystalline cobalt ferrite with the formula CoFe2–xErxO4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10) from nontoxic metal precursors Co(NO3)2·6H2O, Fe(NO3)3·9H2O, and Er(NO3)3·5H2O through an easy and economical sol–gel route in which citric acid is served as the chelating agent. The as-prepared powder was annealed at 700 °C for 3 h in ambient air to get the required spinel structure. The annealed samples were subjected to structural and magnetic characterization. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) data of the samples confirmed the cubic spinel structure formation. The average crystallite size evaluated from XRD data increased from 21 to 34 nm with the substitution of Er due to the larger atomic size of Er3+ than Fe3+. Moreover, the crystallite size obtained from XRD data are well matched with the particle size measured from transmission electron microscopy images. The lattice parameters obtained from XRD data agree well with the values estimated from theoretical cation distribution and Rietveld refinement calculation. The hysteresis curve exhibits the particles are soft ferromagnetic and the coercivity increased from 54.7 to 76.6 kA/m with maximum saturation magnetization, Ms = 61 emug–1 for 0.10 Er content. The squareness ratios were found to be less than 0.5, which indicates the single-domain nature of our particles. The blocking temperature measured from field cooled-zero field cooled curves is TB > 350 K for all the samples, which is much higher than the room temperature (300 K). The enhancement of saturation magnetization and coercivity has been explained based on the crystallite size, anisotropy constant, and cation distribution. Thus, the structural and magnetic properties of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) can be tuned by Er incorporation and these NPs can be applied in different soft magnetic devices.

Development of MoO3-CdO nanoparticles based sensing device for the detection of harmful acetone levels in our skin and body via nail paint remover

Acetone plays a vital role as a cleanser for current cosmetic –products particularly nail paint, gels, fairness creams, face-wash, etc. Inhaling of acetone during cleaning skin and face can cause severe health issues which demand a highly sensitive acetone sensor. Formation of cadmium oxide (CdO) nanoparticles, two-dimensional molybdenum oxide (2D MoO3) nanosheets, and MoO3-CdO nanoparticles were investigated in terms of physical characteristics using the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and UV–visible absorption analysis. Characterization studies witnessed the formation of MoO3-CdO nanoparticles with a characteristic energy band gap, crystallite size, and particle size distribution as 3.80 eV, 38.69 nm, and 2–50 nm, respectively. As fabricated MoO3-CdO nanoparticles-based sensor exhibited an excellent response of 13.48 at 25 ppm with rapid response and recovery times of 6.95 s and 8.34 s respectively. Acetone sensing studies were also conducted for the products of a few commercial companies like Acetone pure, Beauty Company, and Lakme in nail polish removers. The study of MoO3-CdO nanoparticles may be used for acetone sensing in cosmetic applications.