Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of Pt/SnO2 gas sensor for CO detection

In this paper, the Pt/SnO2 nanostructures were prepared via a facile one-step microwave assisted hydrothermal route. The structure of the introduced Pt/SnO2 and its gas-sensing properties toward CO were investigated. The results from the TEM test reveal that Pt grows on the SnO2 nanostructure, which was not found for bulk in this situ method, constructing Pt/SnO2. The results indicated that the sensor using 3.0 wt% Pt/SnO2 to 100 ppm carbon monoxide performed a superior sensing properties compared to 1.5 wt% and 4.5 wt% Pt/SnO2 at 225 °C. The response time of 3.0 wt% sensor is 16 s to 100 ppm CO at 225 °C. Such enhanced gas sensing performances could be attributed to the chemical and electrical factors. In view of chemical factors, the presence of Pt facilitates the surface reaction, which will improve the gas sensing properties. With respect to the electrical factors, the Pt/SnO2 plays roles in increasing the sensor’s response due to its characteristic configuration. In addition, the one-step in situ microwave assisted process provides a promising and versatile choice for the preparation of gas sensing materials.