Networked mesoporous SnO2 nanostructures templated by Brij® 35 with enhanced H2S selective performance

Abstract Sensors based networked mesoporous SnO 2 nanostructures templated by non-ionic surfactant - Brij ® 35 were prepared via hydrothermal chemistry route. Specific patterns of the structure, morphology, surface chemistry and sensing properties were obtained by pH and autogenous pressure tuning. Consequently, the as-obtained SnO 2 powders were subjected to extensive BET, Raman, TEM, HRTEM and XPS complementary investigations. The sensitive films were obtained by screen printing deposition of the powders onto commercial Al 2 O 3 substrates. The gas sensing properties were assessed towards different hazardous gas species: CO, CH 4 , NH 3 , NO 2 , SO 2 and H 2 S over a wide range of operating temperatures. Our particular SnO 2 – HP sensor synthesized at high autogenous pressure showed the highest selective-sensitivity to H 2 S ( The enhancement in the H 2 S sensitivity at low operating temperature under infield conditions was found to be closely connected to the morphological aspects and surface chemistry, peculiarities that can be assessed as consequences of the chemical tuning.