Sensitive detection of indoor air contaminants using a novel gas sensor based on coral-shaped tin dioxide nanostructures

In order to sensitively detect indoor air contaminants including benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and acetone, an effective method using a gas sensor based on coral-shaped tin dioxide nanostructures is reported. It is found that the presented gas sensor exhibits obviously enhanced sensing performance toward indoor air contaminants compared with the ones based on some conventional nanostructures, like nanospheres and nanoparticle-based thin film. The mechanism for such fascinating improvement is demonstrated from the nanoscale size-dependent effect by following theoretical models. Our findings not only provide a promising environmental sensor for sensitively detecting indoor air contaminants, but also suggest a general strategy for utilizing the nanoscale effects of nanoparticles in other environmental and energy-related applications, like waste-water absorbents, catalysts, and solar cells.