Highly selective triethylamine sensing based on SnO/SnO2 nanocomposite synthesized by one-step solvothermal process and sintering

Abstract SnO/SnO2 nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by one-step solvothermal process and sintering. Their crystal phase, element composition and morphology were characterized in detail by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and the transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results of gas sensing measurement on these synthesized materials indicated that the sample annealed at 300 °C showed excellent triethylamine sensing performance at 225 °C. Its response value to 100 ppm triethylamine is 33, 5 times higher than that of pure SnO2. The response time and detection limitation are 2 s and 500 ppb, respectively, which were lower than many other reported sensors. Additionally, it possessed excellent selectivity to triethylamine as well as good stability and repeatability. The rapid response and high sensitivity to trace triethylamine can be attributed to the high levels of chemisorbed oxygen and defective oxygen sites and the p-n junction between SnO and SnO2. The excellent sensing performance of SnO/SnO2 makes it a potential sensing material for triethylamine detection.