Controllable synthesis of novel ZnSn(OH)6 hollow polyhedral structures with superior ethanol gas-sensing performance

The synthesis of micro-/nanostructures with desired structure and morphology is of great technological and scientific value owing to their superior physical and chemical properties. In this paper, high uniformity ZnSn(OH)6 (ZHS) with novel hollow polyhedral structures were prepared by a facile self-templating method. The structures and morphologies of ZHS samples were investigated by several techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). On the basis of those characterizations, it was found that the solid polyhedras of ZHS were formed firstly by the co-precipitation and then the solid polyhedras converted into hollow ones by an inward etching process with the help of OH−. The diameter of the ZHS hollow polyhedra was around 0.8-1 μm and the thickness was about 150-200 nm. Owing to the well-shaped polyhedral and hollow structure, the sensor based on ZHS hollow polyhedras exhibited high response and good selectivity to ethanol gas, indicating that the ZHS hollow polyhedras are highly promising for applications as ethanol sensors.