Novel Zn₂SnO₄ hierarchical nanostructures and their gas sensing properties toward ethanol

In this work, highly ordered Zn₂SnO₄ three-dimensional flowerlike superstructures assembled with nanorods have been synthesized by a facile one-step hydrothermal route at 180 °C. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and selected-area electron diffraction. The morphology of the final products was found to depend strongly on the concentrations of EDA and CTAB used. A possible mechanism for the formation of self-assembled Zn₂SnO₄ flowerlike superstructures is proposed. In addition, the novel Zn₂SnO ₄ three-dimensional superstructures exhibited good gas-sensing properties that are even better than those of the competing binary metal oxide ±-Fe₂O₃ and In₂O₃ sensors. The excellent gas-sensing properties make this material interesting not only for use in sensor devices, but also for a number of related electrochemical applications.