Zhaojie Wang

A highly sensitive ethanol sensor based on mesoporous ZnO–SnO2 nanofibers

A facile and versatile method for the large-scale synthesis of sensitive mesoporous ZnO-SnO(2) (m-Z-S) nanofibers through a combination of surfactant-directed assembly and an electrospinning approach is reported. The morphology and the structure were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm analysis. The results showed that the diameters of fibers ranged from 100 to 150 nm with mixed structures of wurtzite (ZnO) and rutile (SnO(2)), and a mesoporous structure was observed in the m-Z-S nanofibers. The sensor performance of the prepared m-Z-S nanofibers was measured for ethanol. It is found that the mesoporous fiber film obtained exhibited excellent ethanol sensing properties, such as high sensitivity, quick response and recovery, good reproducibility, and linearity in the range 3-500 ppm.

Ultrasensitive Hydrogen Sensor Based on Pd0-Loaded SnO2 Electrospun Nanofibers at Room Temperature

Pd(0)-loaded SnO2 nanofibers have been successfully synthesized with different loaded levels via electrospinning process, sintering technology, and in situ reduction. This simple strategy could be expected to extend for the fabrication of similar metal-oxide loaded nanofibers using different precursors. The morphological and structural characteristics of the resultant product were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). To demonstrate the usage of such Pd(0)-loaded SnO2 nanomaterial, a chemical gas sensor has been fabricated and investigated for H2 detection. The sensing performances versus Pd(0)-loaded levels have been investigated in detail. An ultralow limit of detection (20 ppb), high response, fast response and recovery, and selectivity have been obtained on the basis of the sensors operating at room temperature. The combination of SnO2 crystal structure and catalytic activity of Pd(0)-loaded gives a very attractive sensing behavior for applications as real-time monitoring gas sensors.

Adsorption of Cu(II) from aqueous solution by anatase mesoporous TiO2 nanofibers prepared via electrospinning

Anatase mesoporous titanium nanofibers (m-TiO(2) NFs) have been synthesized from calcination of the as-spun TiO(2)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/pluronic123 (P123) composite nanofibers at 450 °C in air for 3h. The structures and the physicochemical properties of m-TiO(2) NFs are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm analysis, and determination point of zero charge, respectively. An investigation of Cu(II) adsorption onto m-TiO(2) NFs has been studied in this research. The pH effect, adsorption kinetics, and adsorption isotherms are examined in batch experiments. Experimental data were analyzed using pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order kinetic models. It was found that adsorption kinetics were the best fitting by a pseudo-second order kinetic model. The optimum pH for Cu(II) adsorption was found to be 6.0. The equilibrium data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models, which revealed that the Freundlich isotherm is the best-fit isotherm for the adsorption of Cu(II). Compared to the TiO(2) NFs (regular anatase titanium nanofibers) in the same experimental conditions to elucidate the role of the mesoporous structure of m-TiO(2) NFs, experimental results showed that the m-TiO(2) NFs had a better adsorption capacity for Cu(II) due to its higher surface area.

Assembly of Pt nanoparticles on electrospun In2O3 nanofibers for H2S detection

In this paper, we presented a simple and effective solution route to deposit Pt nanoparticles on electrospun In2O3 nanofibers for H2S gas detection. The morphology and chemical structure of the as-prepared samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). The results showed that large quantities of In2O3 nanofibers with diameters about from 60 to 100 nm were obtained and the surface of them was decorated with Pt nanoparticles (5-10 nm in size). The In2O3 nanofibers decorated by Pt nanoparticles exhibited excellent gas sensing properties to H2S, such as high sensitivity, good selectivity and fast response at relatively low temperature.

Au‐Doped Polyacrylonitrile–Polyaniline Core–Shell Electrospun Nanofibers Having High Field‐Effect Mobilities

Au-doped polyacrylonitrile–polyaniline core–shell nanofibers are fabricated via electrospinning and subsequent gas-phase polymerization, providing a very high field-effect mobility of up to 11.6 cm2 V−1 s−1. This method is also suitable for other conducting polymers and may eventually lead to a new and simplified fabrication of high-performance polymer organic field-effect transistors.

Synergic effect within n-type inorganic–p-type organic nano-hybrids in gas sensors

This paper describes the exploration of a synergic effect within n-type inorganic–p-type organic nanohybrids in gas sensors. One-dimensional (1D) n-type SnO2–p-type PPy composite nanofibers were prepared by combining the electrospinning and polymerization techniques, and taken as models to explore the synergic effect during the sensing measurement. Outstanding sensing performances, such as large responses and low detection limits (20 ppb for ammonia) were obtained. A plausible mechanism for the synergic effect was established by introducing p–n junction theory to the systems. Moreover, interfacial metal (Ag) nanoparticles were introduced into the n-type SnO2–p-type PPy nano-hybrids to further supplement and verify our theory. The generality of this mechanism was further verified using TiO2–PPy and TiO2–Au–PPy nano-hybrids. We believe that our results can construct a powerful platform to better understand the relationship between the microstructures and their gas sensing performances.

One‐Dimensional Polyelectrolyte/Polymeric Semiconductor Core/Shell Structure: Sulfonated Poly(arylene ether ketone)/Polyaniline Nanofibers for Organic Field‐Effect Transistors

A polyelectrolyte/polymeric semiconductor core/shell structure is developed for organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone)/polyaniline core/shell nanofibers via electrospinning and solution-phase selective polymerization. The polyelectrolyte does not work as a gate dielectric, but can provide an internal modulation from the nanointerface of the 1D core/shell nanostructure. The transistor devices display very high mobilities.

Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)/polypyrrole core–shell nanofibers : a novel polymeric adsorbent/conducting polymer nanostructures for ultrasensitive gas sensors

Conducting polymers-based gas sensors have attracted increasing research attention these years. The introduction of inorganic sensitizers (noble metals or inorganic semiconductors) within the conducting polymers-based gas sensors has been regarded as the generally effective route for further enhanced sensors. Here we demonstrate a novel route for highly-efficient conducting polymers-based gas sensors by introduction of polymeric sensitizers (polymeric adsorbent) within the conducting polymeric nanostructures to form one-dimensional polymeric adsorbent/conducting polymer core-shell nanocomposites, via electrospinning and solution-phase polymerization. The adsorption effect of the SPEEK toward NH₃ can facilitate the mass diffusion of NH₃ through the PPy layers, resulting in the enhanced sensing signals. On the basis of the SPEEK/PPy nanofibers, the sensors exhibit large gas responses, even when exposed to very low concentration of NH₃ (20 ppb) at room temperature.

Ethanol chemiresistor with enhanced discriminative ability from acetone based on Sr-doped SnO2 nanofibers

We demonstrated a new metal oxides based chemiresistor (MOC), which exhibits fast response/recovery behavior, large sensitivity, and good selectivity to ethanol, enabled by Sr-doped SnO2 nanofibers via simple electrospinning and followed by calcination. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) were carefully used to characterize their morphology, structure, and composition. The ethanol sensing performances based on Sr-doped SnO2 nanofibers were investigated. Comparing with the pristine SnO2 nanofibers, enhanced ethanol sensing performances (more rapid response/recovery behavior and larger response values) have been achieved owing to the basic SnO2 surface caused by Sr-doping, whereas the acetone sensing performances have been weakened. Thus, good discriminative ability to ethanol from acetone has been realized. Additionally, Sr-doped SnO2 nanofibers also exhibit good selectivity.

Ultrafine porous carbon fibers for SO2 adsorption via electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile solution.

This work describes the potential capability of ultrafine porous carbon fibers (UPCF) prepared via electrospinning in the removal of SO2 from a mixture gas stream. A series of conventional PCF (CPCF) and ultrafine PCF (UPCF) were produced under the identical conditions and UPCF was also modified. Compared to the CPCF, experimental results showed that the UPCF had a better adsorption capacity for SO2 due to its higher surface area and microporous volume. After the modification of the UPCF, adsorption capacities of UPCF for SO2 were improved further via increasing the N-containing amount of UPCF and substrate which was followed by few changes in its specific surface area. The optimum concentration of modified reagent is 10%. From the results of the fatigue test, it has been found that both the UPCF and the modified UPCF showed a good durability.