One-step synthesis of 3D flower-like Zn2SnO4 hierarchical nanostructures and their gas sensing properties

Abstract Zn2SnO4 three-dimensional (3D) flowerlike hierarchical nanostructures have been successfully synthesized via a simple one-step hydrothermal method. Field emission scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) results reveal that the Zn2SnO4 flowerlike structures are assembled with nanorods. To demonstrate the potential applications, gas sensor is fabricated based on the as-synthesized hierarchical Zn2SnO4. Gas sensing test results show that the hierarchical Zn2SnO4 sensor exhibits significantly better sensing properties compared with the compact Zn2SnO4 structures. The enhancement of sensing performance is attributed to the unique 3D hierarchical nanostructures, the increased contact surface area between Zn2SnO4 and target gases, and greater number of surface active sites on the surface of as-prepared gas-sensing material. The as-prepared Zn2SnO4 are significant for further exploitation of the potential applications in the future.