CO2 sensing properties of electro-spun Ca-doped ZnO fibres. (21st May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pantò, Fabiola; Leonardi, Salvatore Gianluca; Fazio, Enza; Frontera, Patrizia; Bonavita, Anna; Neri, Giovanni; Antonucci, Pierluigi; Neri, Fortunato; Santangelo, Saveria
• Is Part Of: Nanotechnology. Volume 29:Number 30(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-05-21
• Subjects: Ca-doped ZnO fibres -- electro-spinning -- gas sensor -- carbon dioxide; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology; Publications périodiques; Nanotechnologies; Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aac27c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-4484

Abstract

Abstract: The availability of low-cost, high-performing sensors for carbon dioxide detection in the environment may play a crucial role for reducing CO2 emissions and limiting global warming. In this study, calcium-doped zinc oxide nanofibres with different Ca to Zn loading ratios (1:40 or 1:20) are synthesised via electro-spinning, thoroughly characterised and, for the first time, tested as an active material for the detection of carbon dioxide. The results of their characterisation show that the highly porous fibres consist of interconnected grains of oxide with the hexagonal wurtzite structure of zincite. Depending on the Ca:Zn loading ratio, calcium fully or partly segregates to form calcite on the fibre surface. The high response of the sensor based on the fibres with the highest Ca-doping level can be attributed to the synergy between the fibre morphology and the basicity of Ca-ion sites, which favour the diffusion of the gas molecules within the sensing layer and the CO2 adsorption, respectively.