Realization of portable H2S sensing instrument based on SnO2 nanowires

Abstract Monitoring of toxic gas in air is important because air pollution, especially in developing countries, has rapidly become severe. The high costs of installation and maintenance of stationary analysis system by using methods such as gas chromatography limits its applications. Low-power, portable devices with relatively low-cost gas sensor is effective for mapping pollution level in real-time in urban areas and in any other living environmentts. Herein, the realization of a portable H2S sensor instrument based on SnO2 nanowires is reported. The sensor chip was prepared by on-chip growth of SnO2 nanowires directly from the edges of Pt electrodes. As for the instrument, the electronic system and software for signal acquisition, data processing, data storage, and output were developed. A prototype for zero series of the instrument was also realized. The instrument can monitor H2S gas in air at ppm level and H2S in biogas production satisfactorily.