Development of tin dioxide quantum dots/multi-walled carbon nanotubes and tin dioxide quantum dots/carbon nanohorns nanohybrids as low temperatures natural gas sensors

• Published in: Ceramics international 2017-11, Vol.43 (16), p.14326-14333
• Main Authors: Keshtkar, Sahar, Rashidi, Alimorad, Kooti, Mohammad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Nanohybrid; Natural gas sensor; SnO2 quantum dots/multi-wall carbon nanotubes (SnO2 QDs/CNHs); SnO2 quantum dots/multi-wall carbon nanotubes (SnO2 QDs/MWCNTs)
• ISSN: 0272-8842; 1873-3956
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2017.07.188

A simple hydrothermal method has been used to fabricate tin dioxide quantum dots/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SnO2 QDs/MWCNTs) and tin dioxide quantum dots/carbon nanohorns (SnO2 QDs/CNHs) nanohybrids as the sensing material for natural gas sensor at low temperatures. The gas sensors were fabricated on alumina substrate by screen printing method. The sensing nanohybrids were used as natural gas sensors and their response to 0.1% methane, 0.1% ethane, and 0.1% propane gases was studied in dry air at low temperatures of 100, 150, and 200°C. The response of nanohybrids to propane was higher than the response to methane and ethane. The sensing materials were characterized structurally and morphologically by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The SEM and TEM images of nanohybrids showed that MWCNTs and CNHs are embedded inside the SnO2 matrix. The maximum response of SnO2 QDs/MWCNTs and SnO2 QDs/CNHs nanohybrids to 0.1% propane gas at 200°C was 70% and 66.7%, respectively.