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A novel WO 3 ·H 2 O nanostructure assembled by numerous one-dimensional nanorods as building units were synthesized successfully through a facile hydrothermal process. As a comparison, we also prepared the monodispersed WO 3 ·H 2 O nanorods. The crystal structures and morphologies of two products were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. Furthermore, gas sensing experiments indicated that a superior gas-sensing property of aligned WO 3 ·H 2 O nanorods occurs over that of the monodispersed WO 3 ·H 2 O nanorods, which is likely attributed to large effective surface areas and abundant accessible diffusion channels provided by this special structure for sufficient gas reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flower-like ZnO microstrucutures (ZMFs) self-assembled by nanosheets were fabricated by a simple template-free hydrothermal method, and the nanosheets were observed with a great many of mesopores. Without adding NaOH, sphere-like ZnO microstrucutures (ZMSs) which were covered by nanosheets were obtained. Subsequently, according to the characterization of SEM and TEM for ZMFs nanosheets, the possible formation mechanisms and simulation of ZMFs were discussed. The novel ZMFs presented numerous mesopores of size around 6 nm and high BET specific area (about 36.886 m/g) which contributed to its high gas-sensing performance. In comparison with the ZMSs-based sensor, the ZMFs-based sensor displayed excellent gas-sensing performance to the ethanol gas with high sensitivity of nearly 35 at the concentration of 250 ppm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomaterials with three-dimensional architectures, frequently exhibiting novel functional properties, have attracted considerable attention of the researchers. In current work, we have successfully synthesized the NiO flower-like microspheres with abundant nanoparticles adhering to the petals via a facile hydrothermal method. Interestingly, it is found that the excellent gas sensing properties of the samples towards ethanol are likely attributed to the well-aligned porous architectures as well as great amounts of nanoparticles adhering to the petals, considered as active sites. Meanwhile, we also elaborated a distinctive growth mechanism of such a unique architecture and a plausible gas sensing mechanism, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: New morphologies often play a critical role in governing properties of nano-materials. Here, using hydrothermal method and reagents of sodium citrate and polyethylene glycol (PEG), we synthesize the ZnO nano-crystals and find that they exhibit hierarchical flower-like architectures assembled by nanosheets. Further comparative studies demonstrate that the sodium citrate assists a uniform growth of the nanosheets, and the PEG provides nucleation sites for the assembling of the nanosheets, both of which play a critical role in producing such unique flower-like architectures. Consequently, this sample is found to show excellent sensing performances to the target ethanol owing to its largest amount of petals, intervals, and pores. Such an unexpected morphology holds substantial promise for rendering ZnO as a potential gas-sensing material for a broad range of future sensor applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hexagonal ZnO nanocones were successfully prepared using a controlled hydrothermal method with the assistance of double anionic surfactants. The products were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction. The morphologies of ZnO nanostructures were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The effects of the addition of one anionic to another anionic reagent in the crystal structure formation were discussed in detail. The gas sensing properties were measured for formaldehyde. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Regular hexagonal twinned ZnO nanodisks were successfully prepared from nanodisks using a controlled hydrothermal method with the assistance of double surfactants. The products were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction. The morphologies of ZnO nanostructures were characterized in detail using field-emission scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Based on the experimental results, a growth mechanism for hexagonal structure was proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nanomaterials with unusual architectures or morphologies often exhibit novel functional properties. Here, we apply a simple two-step solution method to synthesize the ZnO/SnO2 microspheres with an average size of 1–2μm, which exhibit a unique core–shell architecture with a uniform dispersion of SnO2 nanoparticles on surfaces of spherical ZnO cores. We further investigate in detail the morphology evolution with reaction time, based upon which a likely growth mechanism is proposed. In property, the prepared core–shell structural ZnO/SnO2 microspheres show excellent gas-sensing functions to ethanol gas of 50ppm at an optimal temperature as low as 250°C, rendering the hybrid microspheres a promising gas-sensing material for the on-site detection of ethanol. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]