Cys-modified zinc oxide 1D-nanostructures formation for gas sensors application

Abstract

In this work, the ZnO-based materials were synthesized for gas sensors applications. The nanostructures formation was carried out by mild hydrothermal synthesis with the variations in surfactant concentration. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the surface states in ZnO nanocrystals was performed. The effect of surfactant (cysteine) adsorption on ZnO 1D-nanostructures growth and the distribution of acid-bade adsorption sites on nanostructures surface were investigated. The control of the nanorods aspect ratio (about 0.4 at cystein concentration of 5 mM/l) leads to the changes in the Zn2+/O2- ions proportion, emerging on the surface. High cysteine concentrations resulted in the formation of Brönsted acid and Lewis base adsorption sites.

Keywords

• Zinc oxide ZnO
• surfactants
• cysteine (Cys)
• adsorption sites
• gas sensors