Enhanced performance of CNT/SnO2 thick film gas sensors towards hydrogen

Nanosized SnO2/carbon nanotube composite gas sensing material has been synthesized by a wet chemical method. The gas sensing studies were performed against a wide range of concentration of hydrogen gas. The sensing performance of the composite was compared with the bulk tin oxide nanoparticles and pure CNT. At 200 degrees C, 0.1% CNT/SnO2 composite sensor exhibited 84% sensitivity against 4% hydrogen gas with a relatively low recovery time of 120 s. It has been demonstrated that SnO2/CNT composite sensor is highly suitable for sensing hydrogen gas at comparatively lower operating temperatures and has the ability to arrest the effect of moisture, by which the stability of the sensors are enhanced markedly, in spite of the lower operating temperatures. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved