PREPARATION AND STUDY OF GAS-SENSITIVE LAYERS IN OPAL-LIKE STRUCTURES BASED ON SnO2 AND ZnO

Abstract

The template method with using tin chloride and zinc nitrate as precursors was used to obtain opal-like structures based on tin dioxide and zinc oxide. The X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were employed to study the influence of annealing temperature on their structural features. The temperatures were identified, which are optimal for the formation of highly ordered domains typical of inverted opals, which maintain short-range order through dozens of layers. Besides, it was shown that the obtained inverted crystals have voids of a spherical shape while their relative position corresponds to the structure of the original colloidal crystal of polystyrene microspheres. There were also estimates of the specific surface of the synthesized structures done. The sensor activity of the obtained opal-like structures towards detecting hydrogen and carbon monoxide was investigated. The results showed that the synthesized materials reveal a high sensor activity when detecting gases like hydrogen and carbon monoxide. In their efficiency, they prove more efficient compared with film structures of these materials obtained via the conventional sol-gel method