New Scandium (III) Coordination Polymers at Bulk and Nano-scale, Synthesis, Characterization, Thermal and Gas sensing Properties

New Scandium(III) coordination polymer at bulk and nanopowders as Scandium 1,4-benzene dicarboxylic acid hydroxide [Sc(OH)(BDCA)]n, (BDCA = 1,4-Benzene Dicarboxylic Acid) has been synthesized by the reaction of a mixture Sc(III) Nitrate and BDCA in MeOH by simple Branched tube and sonochemical method. The nanopowders of Sc2O3 was prepared from the calcinations of the NCP at air atmosphere. The structure of the CP and NCP (CP = Coordination Polymers and NCP = Nano Coordination Polymers) were determined by X-ray crystallography, while nano-structural materials were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). These NCP and Sc2O3 nanostructures have been tested for CO2 gas monitoring by depositing them as thick films on an interdigitated alumina substrate and evaluating the surface resistance of the deposited layer as a function of operating temperature and CO2 concentrations. The gas sensitivity tests have demonstrated that the Sc2O3 nanopowders, exhibit high sensitivity to CO2 proving their applicability in gas sensors. The role of the nanopowdesr on the sensing properties of NCP and Sc2O3 are also discussed.