Fabrication and good ethanol sensing of biomorphic SnO2 with architecture hierarchy of butterfly wings

Authors

F. Song, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Huilan Su, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Jie Han, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Di Zhang, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityFollow
Z. Chen, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

29982

Publication Details

Song, F., Su, H., Han, J., Zhang, D. & Chen, Z. (2009). Fabrication and good ethanol sensing of biomorphic SnO2 with architecture hierarchy of butterfly wings. Nanotechnology, 20 (49), 1-8.

Abstract

Using super-hydrophobic butterfly wings as templates, we developed an aqueous sol–gel soakage process assisted by ethanol-wetting and followed by calcination to fabricate well-organized porous hierarchical SnO₂ with connective hollow interiors and thin mesoporous walls. The exquisite hierarchical architecture of SnO₂ is faithfully replicated from the lightweight skeleton of butterfly wings at the level from nano- to macro-scales. On the basis of the self-assembly of SnO₂ nanocrystallites with diameter around 7.0 nm, the interconnected tubes (lamellas), the fastigiated hollow tubers (pillars) and the double-layered substrates further construct the biomorphic hierarchical architecture. Benefiting from the small grain size and the unique hierarchical architecture, the biomorphic SnO₂ as an ethanol sensor exhibits high sensitivity (49.8 to 50 ppm ethanol), and fast response/recovery time (11/31 s to 50 ppm ethanol) even at relatively low working temperature (170 °C).