Gold sensitized sprayed SnO2 nanostructured film for enhanced LPG sensing

We report LPG sensing of gold (Au)-sensitized SnO2 nanostructured film fabricated by an easy spray pyrolysis deposition method whose surface morphology is confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images and structure by X-ray diffraction pattern. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer analysis has carried out for finding elemental composition. The SnO2 film is uniform and consists of spherical particles of similar to 10 nm. The highest gas response observed at 780 ppm LPG concentration for pristine SnO2 is 28%, at operating temperature 623 K, which is greatly improved on Au sensitization up to 57% with 60 s rapid response time at 598 K operating temperarture. The high gas response is due to electronic effect and catalytic spill-over effect of Au sensitization. The improved sensing mechanism has throughly been explored. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.