Nanocrystalline composites in TiO2 and SnO2 system for ammonia resistance sensors

This work describes the production of nanocrystalline TiO2 and SnO2 oxides, as well as their nanocomposites (containing 26.9, 58.7 and 79.0 wt.% of SnO2) with two-stage sol-gel method combined with high temperature treatment. The phase composition and medium size crystallites were determined using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and revealed that the nanocomposites crystallize in tetragonal structures of TiO2 - anatase and SnO2 - cassiterite. Specific surface area of the nanopowders, measured using sorption method (BET), changed from 42.1 to 160.8 m2/g. The morphology of the nanopowders was observed using transmission electron microscope (TEM). As indicated by TEM images, the manufactured nanopowders were well crystallized and consisted of small, spherical grains. The obtained nanopowders were also tested for NH3 gas detection application. The presented method of nanopowders synthesis enables to obtain nanocrystalline TiO2 and SnO2 oxides, as well as composites from TiO2-SnO2 of known and controlled chemical and phase composition. It also enables to obtain composites used for gas sensors. The sensor made of composite containing 58.7 wt.% of SnO2 exhibited the best NH3 sensing features