First Example of ZnO−TiO2 Nanocomposites by Chemical Vapor Deposition: Structure, Morphology, Composition, and Gas Sensing Performances

• DOI: 10.1021/cm701990f
• Publication Date: 2007-10-12T11:40:52Z
• Authors: Davide Barreca; Elisabetta Comini; Angelo P. Ferrucci; Alberto Gasparotto; Chiara Maccato; Cinzia Maragno; Giorgio Sberveglieri; Eugenio Tondello
• Keywords: Characterization; Deposition; Morphology

ZnO−TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized by an innovative chemical vapor deposition (CVD) strategy, based on the initial growth of ZnO nanoplatelets (host) and subsequent dispersion TiO2 nanoparticles (guest). Ti(OiPr)2(dpm)2 Zn(hfa)2·TMEDA (OiPr: iso-propoxy; dpm: 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate; hfa: 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionate; TMEDA: N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) adopted as Ti Zn molecular sources, respectively. The syntheses performed in nitrogen plus wet oxygen atmospheres at relatively low temperatures (350−400 °C) Si(100) Al2O3 substrates, avoiding ex-situ thermal treatment to preserve identity host guest phases. process resulted formation nanocomposite deposits with average thickness 140 nm, whose characteristics directly affected matrix porosity amount dispersion, tailored varying time. In this framework, particular attention was devoted investigation composite chemico-physical properties a function processing parameters. Furthermore, gas sensing performances detection volatile organic compounds (CH3COCH3, CH3CH2OH, CO) being dependent their composition morphology, revealing better than pristine systems. These results disclose intriguing perspectives for development devices environmental purposes food control monitoring.