Pd-loaded SnO2 hierarchical nanospheres for a high dynamic range H2S micro sensor†
Abstract
Herein, a high dynamic range H2S micro gas sensor was achieved using hierarchical Pd-loaded SnO2 nanostructures as a sensing material. SnO2 nanospheres were synthesized using a hydrothermal method without any surfactants or templates, followed by Pd nanoparticle decoration via a facile method. A hierarchical nanostructure of Pd-loaded SnO2 was formed, and its sensing abilities were compared with those of pure SnO2 nanosphere-based sensors. The Pd-loaded SnO2 hierarchical nanostructures showed an ultra-sensitive H2S detection ability down to 10 ppb, a high dynamic range (4 orders of magnitude) up to 200 ppm, and a low working temperature (150 °C). Thus, this micro gas sensor based on Pd-loaded SnO2 hierarchical nanostructures has promising applications in universal H2S detection. The fabrication method presented herein is simple, renewable and operable and thus may be extended to synthesize other types of metal oxide-based semiconductor micro sensors for application in various fields.