SnO2 Nanostructured Thin Films for Room-Temperature Gas Sensing of Volatile Organic Compounds

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b08397
• Publication Date: 2018-08-07T23:17:52Z
• Authors: Kelsey Haddad; Ahmed Abokifa; Shalinee Kavadiya; Byeongdu Lee; Sriya Banerjee; Baranidharan Raman; Parag Banerjee; Cynthia Lo; John Fortner; Pratim Biswas
• Keywords: 0103 physical sciences; 11. Sustainability; 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

We demonstrated room-temperature gas sensing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using SnO2 nanostructured thin films grown via the aerosol chemical vapor deposition process at deposition temperatures ranging from 450 to 600 °C. We investigated the film's sensing response to the presence of three classes of VOCs: apolar, monopolar, and biopolar. The synthesis process was optimized, with the most robust response observed for films grown at 550 °C as compared to other temperatures. The role of film morphology, exposed surface planes, and oxygen defects were explored using experimental techniques and theoretical calculations to improve the understanding of the room-temperature gas sensing mechanism, which is proposed to be through the direct adsorption of VOCs on the sensor surface. Overall, the improved understanding of the material characteristics that enable room-temperature sensing gained in this work will be beneficial for the design and application of metal oxide gas sensors at room temperature.