Structural, Optical, Surface and Gas-Sensing Properties of rGO/Sn1-xZnxO₂ Nanocomposites

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Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | 04 | Page :
By

Shaikh Mohd. Waseem,

Shahebaz S. Khan,

Mahesh D. Raut,

Kranti R. Zakde,

Nikeshkumar N. Ingle,

  1. Research Scholar, Department of Physics, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, MGM University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, India
  2. Research Scholar, Department of Physics, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, MGM University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, India
  3. Research Scholar, Department of Physics, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, MGM University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, India
  4. Associate Professor, Department of Physics, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, MGM University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, India
  5. Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, MGM University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

rGO/Sn₁₋ₓZnₓO₂ nanocomposites with x = 0.00–0.75 were synthesized by sol–gel auto-combustion followed by wet impregnation with reduced graphene oxide. The adopted synthesis route enabled homogeneous Zn incorporation into the SnO₂ matrix and uniform distribution of rGO, leading to improved structural integrity and interfacial contact between the two components. XRD confirmed a dominant tetragonal cassiterite SnO₂ structure, while FTIR, FESEM, EDS, UV–visible, and BET analyses verified oxide–rGO coupling, Zn-dependent structural modification, porous morphology, and band-gap narrowing. The combined structural, compositional, optical, and surface analyses revealed that Zn substitution effectively altered the physicochemical properties of SnO₂ without generating undesirable secondary phases. The x = 0.45 composition exhibited the most favourable balance of crystallite size, defect density, nanoparticle dispersion, surface area, and pore volume, and was therefore selected for gas sensing. At 200 °C and 100 ppm, the sensor showed responses of 99.36% to acetone, 98.51% to H₂S, and 35.86% to ethanol. H₂S produced the fastest response among the three gases, whereas acetone showed the most complete recovery. The enhanced behaviour is attributed to chemisorbed oxygen reactions, Zn-associated defect sites, mesoporosity, and rGO-assisted interfacial charge transport. The synergistic interaction between Zn-doped SnO₂ and the conductive rGO network facilitates efficient electron transport, provides abundant active adsorption sites, and promotes rapid surface reactions with target gas molecules, thereby improving sensing characteristics. These results demonstrate its potential as a multigas chemoresistive platform for environmental and industrial monitoring.

Keywords: rGO ; Zn-modified SnO₂; acetone sensing; mesoporosity; chemoresistive sensor.

How to cite this article: Shaikh Mohd. Waseem, Shahebaz S. Khan, Mahesh D. Raut, Kranti R. Zakde, Nikeshkumar N. Ingle. Structural, Optical, Surface and Gas-Sensing Properties of rGO/Sn1-xZnxO₂ Nanocomposites. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(04):-.
How to cite this URL: Shaikh Mohd. Waseem, Shahebaz S. Khan, Mahesh D. Raut, Kranti R. Zakde, Nikeshkumar N. Ingle. Structural, Optical, Surface and Gas-Sensing Properties of rGO/Sn1-xZnxO₂ Nanocomposites. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(04):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=252717

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Ahead of Print Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
04
Received 06/07/2026
Accepted 28/07/2026
Published 17/08/2026
Publication Time 42 Days

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