Bimetal PdAu decorated SnO2 nanosheets based gas sensor with temperature-dependent dual selectivity for detecting formaldehyde and acetone

In this study, SnO2 nanosheets (NSs) was firstly prepared by the hydro-solvothermal treatment, and then decorated with Pd, Au and PdAu bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) by an in situ reduction with ascorbic acid (AA). Their morphology, chemistry, and crystal structure were characterized at the nanoscale. It was found that SnO2 NSs were flower-like with thickness of 7–12 nm, and PdAu NPs with the size of 3–10 nm were dispersed uniformly on the surface of SnO2 NSs. Their gas sensing properties were carefully studied. The results demonstrated that the PdAu/SnO2 sensor can not only effectively detect acetone at 250 °C with response of 6.6 to 2 ppm acetone, but also detect formaldehyde at 110 °C with response of 4.1–2 ppm formaldehyde, and the corresponding detection limit is as low as 45 ppb and 30 ppb, respectively. Moreover, the PdAu/SnO2 sensor exhibited excellent reusability, and reliability to the low concentration of acetone and good anti-interference to humidity and other biomarkers in human breath. Compared with that decorated with their parent metal (Pd or Au), the enhanced response of SnO2 NSs decorated with PdAu bimetallic NPs may be ascribed to the chemical sensitization of Au, the electronic sensitization of Pd and the synergistic effect of PdAu bimetallic NPs. The PdAu/SnO2 sensor has a great potential application in detecting formaldehyde and diabetes diagnosis.