Improvement of Toluene-Sensing Performance of SnO₂ Nanofibers by Pt Functionalization.

Jae-Hun Kim,Zain Abideen,Sang Kim,Yifang Zheng

doi:10.3390/s16111857

Abstract

Functionalization of metal nanoparticles (NPs) on oxide materials is a commonly employed technique for enhancing the sensitivity and selectivity of materials for gas sensing applications. In this study, we functionalized electrospinning-synthesized SnO2 nanofibers (NFs) with various amounts of Pt NPs to enhance the toluene-sensing properties. In particular, Pt NPs were prepared by deposition of Pt films by sputtering and subsequent heat treatment. Electronic and chemical sensitizations by the Pt NPs were responsible for the improved toluene sensitivity. The best sensing properties were achieved at an optimized amount of Pt NPs, showing a volcano shape in relation to the amount of Pt NPs. The method used in this study is useful for the development of toluene-sensitive and -selective chemiresistive NF-based gas sensors.

Highlights

IntroductionSensitive metal oxide-based gas sensors have become increasingly important for monitoring environmental pollution and toxic chemical gases in industry as well as in daily life
Sensitive metal oxide-based gas sensors have become increasingly important for monitoring environmental pollution and toxic chemical gases in industry as well as in daily life.The sensitivity of metal oxide-based gas sensors is highly dependent on the specific surface area of the sensing material
It was observed that the Pt functionalization greatly enhanced the sensitivity of the SnO2

Summary

Introduction

Sensitive metal oxide-based gas sensors have become increasingly important for monitoring environmental pollution and toxic chemical gases in industry as well as in daily life. The sensitivity of metal oxide-based gas sensors is highly dependent on the specific surface area of the sensing material. Many attempts have been made to increase the specific surface area of sensing materials in the past few decades [1,2,3,4,5] using one-dimensional structures such as nanowires, nanotubes, nanobelts, and nanofibers (NFs). NFs have a unique microstructure, exhibiting nanograins on the surfaces that can further increase the surface area and greatly affect the sensing properties as compared to other one-dimensional structures. Functionalization or decoration with metal NPs is a generally accepted and effective route to enhance the gas sensing properties of metal oxides [12,13] by electronic and chemical sensitizations

Methods

Results

Conclusion