A visible-light activated gas sensor based on perylenediimide-sensitized SnO2 for NO2 detection at room temperature

A visible-light activated gas sensor has been successfully fabricated by impregnating perylenediimide into a SnO2 nanofilm. The perylenediimide/SnO2 heterojunction sensor exhibits a higher sensing performance in comparison to the SnO2-based sensor. Moreover, under the assistance of visible-light illumination, the hybrid sensor can work efficiently at room temperature for low concentration NO2 detection through increased sensitivity and reduction of the response and recovery times. These desirable sensing features can be attributed to the advanced heterostructure, since it not only enables the sensor to be activated by the visible-light but also has advantages for electron separation. Finally, the excellent selectivity and reproducibility of the hybrid sensor were also demonstrated. Our experimental results suggest that this hybrid sensor could be a promising candidate for room-temperature gas sensing applications.