Two-dimensional net-like SnO 2 /ZnO heteronanostructures for high-performance H 2 S gas sensor

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for energy and sustainability Materials for energy and sustainability, 2016, Vol.4 (4), p.1390-1398
• Main Authors: Fu, Diyu, Zhu, Chunling, Zhang, Xitian, Li, Chunyan, Chen, Yujin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2050-7488; 2050-7496
• DOI: 10.1039/C5TA09190J

H 2 S gas in the environment, even at a concentration as low as 20 ppb, is very harmful to the health of human beings. Therefore, the design and fabrication of sensors for detecting trace H 2 S gas in the environment are highly desirable. However, it remains a challenge to develop gas sensors that can detect H 2 S at ppb concentration levels and at a relatively low temperature. Herein we developed a facile method to fabricate porous two-dimensional net-like SnO 2 /ZnO heteronanostructures. Both the SnO 2 and ZnO nanoparticles were significantly smaller in the net-like heteronanostructures than in net-like SnO 2 and ZnO homonanostructures. Heterojunctions formed at the interfaces between SnO 2 and ZnO—and, as a result, the net-like SnO 2 /ZnO heteronanostructures—exhibited better H 2 S-sensing properties, including higher sensor response, better selectivity and long-term stability, than did the net-like SnO 2 and ZnO homonanostructures, and other types of metal oxide-based nanocomposites. Importantly, the SnO 2 /ZnO heteronanostructures could detect 10 ppb H 2 S even at a working temperature of 100 °C. Therefore, the net-like SnO 2 /ZnO heteronanostructures have very promising applications in high-performance H 2 S sensors. In addition, the fabrication method presented here is facile, repeatable and operable, and may thus be extended to synthesize other types of metal oxide-based heteronanostructures for applications in various fields.