Synthesis of NiO Nanostructures by Sonocatalyzed Microwave Irradiation Technique and Their Acetone Sensing Properties

Abstract

Nickel oxide (NiO) nanostructures were synthesized by sonocatalyzed microwave irradiation technique, followed by calcination process. Electron microscopic images of NiO powder calcined at 500 °C revealed coexistence of nanorods and spherical nanoparticles. The NiO powders calcined at 600 and 700 °C composed of spherical nanoparticles, where a larger particle size was observed for the powder calcined at 700 °C. The acetone sensor response of the fabricated NiO sensors revealed that shape and size of the NiO particles affected the response. The response increased with increasing acetone gas concentration, which reached a maximum value at the operating temperature of 325 °C.

Keywords:

• p-type NiO
• semiconductor
• acetone gas sensor
• sonocatalyzed microwave irradiation

Acknowledgements

Sulawan Kaowphong would like to acknowledge the Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, the Global partnership research grant, and Chiang Mai University for partially support.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) under the TRF Research Career Grant No. RSA5880056. This research was also supported by Unit of Excellence on Sensors Technology, School of Science, University of Phayao.