Sol-gel

Engineering

Transmission electron microscopy

Metallurgy

Materials science

Chromatography

Spinel

Substitution (logic)

Computer science

Chemical engineering

Zinc

Physical chemistry

Nanotechnology

Organic chemistry

Cement

Combustion

Field emission gun

Aluminate

Composite material

Analytical Chemistry (journal)

Chemistry

Programming language

Scanning electron microscope

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Ceramics International

The nanosphere decorated needle-like morphology of zinc-substituted aluminate having general formula ZnxAl2O4 (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5) (ZAN) samples were synthesized by a sol-gel auto-combustion method. The phase formation and stability temperature were confirmed by TG-DTA analysis. XRD study confirmed the formation of a cubic spinel structure of ZAN samples. The effect of Zn-substitution on structural and morphological properties of aluminate were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). The D.C. electrical resistivity study of ZAN samples revealed that resistance decreased with increasing temperature confirmed semiconducting nature. Nanosphere existing on micro-needles of zinc-substituted aluminate gas sensor revealed sensing to several analyte gases such as H2S, Cl2, CH3OH, SO2, and NO2 working at room temperature to 300 °C. The Zn0·4Al2O4 compositional gas sensor produced the highest response at operating temperature 200 °C to 100 ppm H2S. The results revealed that the prepared nanosphere decorated needles of the ZAN sensor was sensitive and selective to H2S gas.

Influence of Zn-substitution on structural, morphological, electrical, and gas sensing properties of Zn Al2O4 (x = 0.1 to 0.5) synthesized by a sol-gel auto-combustion method