We report the synthesis and gas sensing properties of bare and ZnO decorated TeO2 nanowires (NWs). A catalyst assisted-vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth method was used to synthesize TeO2 NWs and ZnO decoration was performed using an Au-catalyst assisted-VLS growth method followed by a subsequent heat treatment. Structural and morphological analyses using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning/transmission electron microscopies, respectively, demonstrated the formation of bare and ZnO decorated TeO2 NWs with desired phase and morphology. NO2 gas sensing studies were performed at different temperatures ranging from 50 to 400 oC towards 50 ppm NO2 gas. The results obtained showed that both sensors had their best optimal sensing temperature at 350 oC, while ZnO decorated TeO2 NWs sensor showed much better sensitivity towards NO2 relative to a bare TeO2 NWs gas sensor. The reason for the enhanced sensing performance of the ZnO decorated TeO2 NWs sensor was attributed to the formation of ZnO (n)/ TeO2 (p) heterojunctions and the high intrinsic gas sensing properties of ZnO.

In this study, the additivity factors of compositions to density and glass transition point (Tg) in a xLi2O-(1-x)[(1-y)TeO2-yZnO] (0<x<20, 0<y<20) glass system were analyzed by using mixture design, and the change of ionic conductivity with density and Tg was discussed. As a method for predicting the relation between glass structure and ionic conductivity, density was measured by the Archimedes method. The glass transition point was analyzed to predict the relation between ionic conductivity and the bonding energy between alkali ions and non-bridge oxygen (NBO). The relation equations showing the additivity factor of each composition to the two properties are as follows: Density(g/cm3) = 2.441x1 ＋ 5.559x2 ＋ 4.863x3 Tg(˚C) = 319x1 ＋ 247x2 ＋ 609x3 － 1950x1x3 (x1 : fraction of Li2O, x2 : fraction of TeO2, x3 : fraction of ZnO) The density decreased as Li2O content increased. This was attributed to change of the TeO2 structure. From this structural result, the electric conductivity of the glass samples was predicted following the ionic conduction mechanism. Finally, it is expected that electric conductivity will increase as the activation energy for ion movement decreases.