Enhanced H2 gas sensing performances by Pd-loaded In2O3 microspheres

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2024-10, Vol.130 (10), Article 741
• Main Authors: Tang, Mingxin, Qin, Cong, Sun, Xueya, Li, Mengwei, Wang, Yihui, Cao, Jianliang, Wang, Yan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Clean energy; Condensed Matter Physics; Flammable gases; Gas sensors; Indium oxides; Low temperature; Machines; Manufacturing; Microspheres; Nanotechnology; Operating temperature; Optical and Electronic Materials; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Recovery time; Sensors; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-024-07905-w

Hydrogen (H 2 ) energy, as a clean energy source, has high energy density and durability, while H 2 is flammable and explosive, which requires strict safety technology measures to ensure the safety of high-pressure storage transportation. Therefore, the development of sensitive sensors is needed. In this study, In 2 O 3 microspheres with different Pd loadings were fabricated by hydrothermal method. Compared with the pristine In 2 O 3 gas sensor, the optimal operating temperature of the In 2 O 3 sensor is reduced from 160 ℃ to 80 ℃ after loading Pd. Among the prepared Pd/In 2 O 3 gas sensors, the response value of the 2 at% Pd/In 2 O 3 sensor towards 1000 ppm H 2 is 50.743 at 80 ℃. The response/recovery time is 80 s/235 s. The improved H 2 sensing performance can be ascribed to the chemical and electron sensitization of Pd, and the formation of PdO, PdH x . This study shows that Pd-loaded In 2 O 3 can effectively reduce the optimal operating temperature and enhance the response value for detecting H 2 in the range of 5-5000 ppm. Therefore, this sensor has good application prospects for detecting H 2 at low temperatures.