Enhanced Sensing Performance of Electrospun Tin Dioxide Nanofibers Decorated with Cerium Dioxide Nanoparticles for the Detection of Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Abstract

Tin dioxide (SnO2) nanofibers and cerium dioxide (CeO2) nanoparticles were prepared by electrospinning and hydrothermal methods, respectively. The morphology and structure of the synthesized SnO2/CeO2 samples were characterized by a variety of methods. The gas-sensing properties of the SnO2/CeO2 sensor were investigated for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) detection at room temperature. Compared with pure SnO2 nanofibers, the SnO2/CeO2 composite sensor showed a much higher response and shorter response time for LPG sensing after doping with CeO2 nanoparticles. Furthermore, the SnO2/CeO2 composite sensor had better resistance to interference from humidity than the pure SnO2 sensor. The significantly enhanced sensing performance of the SnO2/CeO2 composite sensor for LPG can be attributed to the modification with CeO2 to increase oxygen vacancies and form a heterostructure with SnO2 nanofibers. Meanwhile, the LPG detection circuit was built to realize real-time concentration display and alarm for practical applications.