Structural stability and performance of noble metal-free sno2-based gas sensors

Abstract

The structural stability of pure SnO2 nanoparticles and highly sensitive SnO2-SiO2 nanocomposites (0-15 SiO2 wt%) has been investigated for conditions relevant to their utilization as chemoresistive gas sensors. Thermal stabilization by SiO2 co-synthesis has been investigated at up to 600 oC determining regimes of crystal size stability as a function of SiO2-content. For operation up to 400 oC, thermally stable crystal sizes of ca. 24 and 11 nm were identified for SnO2 nanoparticles and 1.4 wt% SnO2-SiO2 nanocomposites, respectively. The effect of crystal growth during operation (TO = 320 oC) on the sensor response to ethanol has been reported, revealing possible long-term destabilization mechanisms. In particular, crystal growth and sintering-neck formation were discussed with respect to their potential to change the sensor response and calibration. Furthermore, the effect of SiO2 cosynthesis on the cross-sensitivity to humidity of these noble metal-free SnO2-based gas sensors was assessed. © 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.