Electrical and gas-sensing properties of mesostructured tin oxide-based H2 sensor

In this study, mesostructured tin oxides with high specific surface area were synthesized using a cationic surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB: CH3(CH2)15N+(CH3)3Br−) as the organic template and the hydrous tin chloride (SnCl4·5H2O) and NH4OH as the inorganic precursor and alkali source under acidic conditions at ambient temperature. The surface areas of mesostructured tin oxides are 368, 343 and 136 m2/g for calcination at 300, 350 and 400 °C, respectively. The indirect-heating sensors using mesostructrued tin oxides with high surface area as sensitive materials were fabricated on an alumina tube with Au electrodes and platinum wires. Electrical and sensing properties of these sensors based on mesostructured tin oxides were investigated. It was found that the materials with high surface areas had higher sensitivity to H2 and selectivity to methane, butane and CO than commercial sample of polycrystalline tin(IV) oxide. The mesostructured tin oxide based on gas sensor can be applied to monitor and control leakage of hydrogen gas.