Inclusion of SWCNTs in Nb/Pt co-doped TiO2 thin-film sensor for ethanol vapor detection

Nb-Pt co-doped TiO2 and the hybrid SWCNTs/Nb-Pt co-doped TiO2 thin films have been prepared by the sol–gel spin-coating process for gas-sensor fabrication. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM, TEM and X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterizations indicated that the SWCNTs inclusion did not affect the morphology of the TiO2 thin film and the particle size. Additionally, the SWCNTs were well embedded in the TiO2 matrix. The gas-sensing properties of Nb–Pt co-doped TiO2 thin films with and without SWCNTs inclusion were investigated. The hybrid sensors with the inclusion of different SWCNTs contents are examined to elucidate the effect of SWCNTs content on the gas-sensing properties. Experimental results revealed that the responses to ethanol of Nb–Pt co-doped TiO2 sensors with SWNCTs inclusion increase by factors of 2–5 depending on the operating temperature and the ethanol concentration, compared to that of the sensor without SWCNTs inclusion. Moreover, all hybrid sensors can operate with high sensitivity and stability at a relatively low operating temperature (<335 °C). The responses of the hybrid sensors are greatly affected by SWCNTs content inclusion. The optimized SWCNTs content of 0.01% by weight was obtained for our experiment. The improved gas-sensing performance should be attributed to the additional formation of the p/n junction between SWCNTs (p-type) and TiO2 (n-type).