Nanocomposites SnO2/Fe2O3: Wet chemical synthesis and nanostructure characterization

Nanocomposites SnO2/Fe2O3 have been obtained in whole concentration range 0-100 mol% Fe2O3 using wet chemical synthesis. The composition and nanostructure of the powders have been investigated by energy dispersed X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and BET measurements. It has been found that the addition of a second component affects the grain size and lattice parameters of major phase. A spinel mixed phase Fe3−xSnxO4 have been observed by XRD and Raman spectroscopy. A new Raman band firstly detected for Fe2O3-based samples could be the vibrational signature of nanocrystalline state of Fe2O3. The gas sensor properties of nanocomposites towards 15 ppm H2S have been studied by conductance measurements in dc mode at 150 °C. The maximum sensor response to H2S has been observed for samples (Fe2O3)0.015(SnO2)0.985 and (Fe2O3)0.72(SnO2)0.28.