Synthesis and Humidity Sensing Investigations of Nanostructured ZnSnO₃

Rama Singh, Avadhesh Kumar Yadav, Chandkiram Gautam

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DOI: 10.4236/jst.2011.14016                

Abstract

In this paper zinc stannate (ZnSnO₃) nanoparticles was synthesized by a chemical precipitation method. The synthesized samples were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy. Sensing material was made as pellet by hydraulic press machine under uniform pressure of 616 MPa. Then the material was annealed at 600^。C. Surface morphologies of the samples were analyzed using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for pellet of different weight ratio annealed at 600^。C. The XRD pattern indicates that ZnSnO₃ has a perovskite phase with an orthorhombic structure having minimum crystallite size 4 nm. Further, humidity sensing investigations of these sensing materials were done. Our result indicate that ZnSnO₃ in form of pellet annealed at 600^。C for 1:4 weight ratio was most sensitive of humidity in comparison to pure SnO2 under same conditions. Maximum sensitivity of the sample was 3 GΩ/% RH which is better in comparison to pure SnO₂. The results were reproducible up to ± 77% after 2 months of observations.

Keywords

Zinc Stannate, SEM, XRD, UV-Visible Absorption Spectroscopy, Humidity

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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