title: Co3O4/ZnO nanocomposites: from plasma synthesis to gas sensing applications.
abstract: Herein, we describe the design, fabrication and gas sensing tests of p-Co(3)O(4)/n-ZnO nanocomposites. Specifically, arrays of (001) oriented ZnO nanoparticles were grown on alumina substrates by plasma enhanced-chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and used as templates for the subsequent PECVD of Co(3)O(4) nanograins. Structural, morphological and compositional analyses evidenced the successful formation of pure and high-area nanocomposites with a tailored overdispersion of Co(3)O(4) particles on ZnO and an intimate contact between the two oxides. Preliminary functional tests for the detection of flammable/toxic analytes (CH(3)COCH(3), CH(3)CH(2)OH, NO(2)) indicated promising sensing responses and the possibility of discriminating between reducing and oxidizing species as a function of the operating temperature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Padova University and INSTM, 35131 Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bekermann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasparotto
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barreca
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maccato
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Comini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sada
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sberveglieri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Devi
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fischer