Investigation on Sb-doped SnO2 as an efficient sensor for the detection of formaldehyde

Abstract

The applicability of antimony-doped tin dioxide (Sb-doped SnO2) as a very precise sensor for detecting formaldehyde (HCHO) gas is investigated in this study. The sol-gel method was used to prepare pure SnO2 and Sb-doped SnO2 nanostructures, which resulted in better structural and morphological properties. The prepared samples were analyzed using several characterization techniques, including X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A structural investigation indicated the presence of a tetragonal SnO2 phase with a clear preference for the (110) orientation. Furthermore, the crystallite size reduced as the quantity of Sb doping rose. According to FE-SEM analysis, both the undoped (SnO2) and Sb-doped SnO2 samples had polyhedral structures. FTIR analysis verified the presence of organic functional groups in the prepared powder samples. The optical band gap (Eg) values decreased with an increasing concentration of Sb doping in the SnO2 nanostructures. XPS was used to determine the chemical elements of the prepared powder samples. In the gas sensing study, those based on 8 wt% Sb-doped SnO2 (referred to as ATO-8) outperformed the others. At room temperature, the ATO-8 sample demonstrated stronger sensor response, faster response and recovery durations (98 s/74 s), and linear behavior. These enhancements can be attributable to an increase in adsorbed oxygen species caused by Sb doping, highlighting ATO-8's potential as a substance for detecting HCHO. This study emphasizes the potential of ATO-8 as a significant resource for practical use in the detection of HCHO, with benefits such as improved indoor air quality, increased industrial safety, and advancements in environmental monitoring.