Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chemoresistive sensor for hydrogen using thin films of tin dioxide doped with cerium and palladium

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Microchimica Acta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This work reports on the development of thin films of SnO2 doped with cerium and palladium and shows them to be viable materials for chemoresistive sensing of hydrogen (H2). The sensing material was synthesized by a hydrothermal route and with different weight percentage loadings of the dopants. The structural and morphological features were investigated by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Thin films were fabricated by spin coating on a ceramic substrate. The change in the resistance of the film was measured as a function of the concentration of H2. The results show that the amount of loading with Ce and Pd has a large effect on the performance. The Ce doped nanocomposite sensor has a lower detection limit of 50 ppm of H2 and covers the 50 to 500 ppm H2 concentration range if operated at the optimum temperature of 200 °C and a working voltage of 5 V.

Ce and Pd doped SnO2 based chemoresistive gas sensors were developed for H2 gas. The y show an appreciable detection limit, sensitivity and selectivity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Sahoo P, Dhara S, Dash S, Amirthapandian S, Arun KP, Tyagi AK (2013) Room temperature H2 sensing using functionalized GaN nanotubes with ultra-low activation energy. Int J Hydrog Energy 38:3513–3520

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Eranna G, Joshi BC, Runthala DP, Gupta RP (2004) Oxide materials for development of integrated gas sensors-a comprehensive review. Crit Rev Solid State Mater Sci 29:111–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Huang JR, Hsu WC, Chen HI, Liu WC (2007) Comparative study of hydrogen sensing characteristics of a Pd/GaN Schottky diode in air and N2 atmospheres. Sens Actuators B Chem 123:1040–1048

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Soo MT, Cheong KY, Mohd Noor AF (2010) Advances of SiC-based MOS capacitor hydrogen sensors for harsh environment applications. Sens Actuators B Chem 151:39–55

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Abdulah QN, Yam FK, Hassan JJ, Chin CW, Hassan Z, Bououdina M (2013) High performance room temperature GaN-nanowires hydrogen gas sensor fabricated by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique. Int J Hydrog Energy 38:14085–14101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Linke S, Dallmer M, Werner R, Moritz W (2012) Low energy hydrogen sensor. Int J Hydrog Energy 37:17523–17528

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Korotcenkov G, Brinzari V, Cho BK (2016) Conductometric gas sensors based on metal oxides modified with gold nanoparticles: a review. Microchim Acta 183:1033–1054. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-015-1741-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kanan SM, El-Kadri OM, Abu-Yousef IA, Kanan MC (2009) Semiconducting metal oxide based sensors for selective gas pollutant detection. Sensors 9:8158–8196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Liwei W, Yanfei K, Xianghong L, Shoumin Z, Weiping H, Shurong W (2012) ZnO nanorod gas sensor for ethanol detection. Sens Actuators B Chem 162:237–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Korotcenkov G, Brinzari V, Cho BK (2016) Conductometric gas sensors based on metal oxides modified with gold nanoparticles: a review. Microchim Acta 183:1033–1054

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Batzill M, Diebold U (2005) The surface and materials science of tin oxide. Prog Surf Sci 79:47–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Korotcenkov G (2007) Metal oxides for solid-state gas sensors: what determines our choice? Mater Sci Eng B 139:1–23

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Brasan N, Stetter JR, Findlay M, Gopel W (2000) High performance gas sensing of CO: comparative tests for (SnO2-based) semiconducting and for electrochemical sensors. Sens Actuators B Chem 66:31–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Zhang G, Liu M (2000) Effect of particle size and dopant on properties of SnO2-based gas sensors. Sens Actuators B Chem 69:144–152

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Chowdhuri A, Gupta V, Sreenivas K (2003) Fast response H2S gas sensing characteristics with ultra-thin CuO is lands on sputtered SnO2. Sens Actuators B Chem 93:572–579

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Jain K, Pant RP, Lakshmikumar ST (2006) Effect of Ni doping on thick film SnO2 gas sensor. Sens Actuators B Chem 113:823–829

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Rahman MM, Jamal A, Khan SB, Faisal M (2011) Highly sensitive ethanol chemical sensor based on Ni-doped SnO2 nanostructure materials. Biosens Bioelectron 28:127–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Wang Y, Wang YM, Cao JL, Kong FH, Xia HJ, Zhang J, Zhu BL, Wang SR, Wu SH (2008) Low-temperature H2S sensors based on ag-doped -Fe2O3 nanoparticles. Sens Actuators B Chem 131:183–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Liu X, Zhang J, Guo X, Wu S, Wang S (2010) Amino acid-assisted one pot assembly of au, Pt nanoparticles onto one-dimensional ZnO microrods. Nano 2:1178–1184

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Liu X, Zhang J, Guo X, Wu S, Wang S (2011) Enhanced sensor response of Ni-doped SnO2 hollow spheres. Sens Actuators B Chem 152:162–167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Wang Y, Wang SR, Zhao YQ, Zhu BL, Kong FH, Wang D, Wu SH, Huang WP, Zhang SM (2007) H2S sensing characteristics of Pt-doped Fe2O3 thick film sensors. Sens Actuators B Chem 125:79–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Jiang ZW, Guo Z, Sun B, Jia Y, Li MQ, Liu JH (2010) Highly sensitive and selective butanone sensors based on cerium-doped SnO2 thin films. Sens Actuators B Chem 145:667–673

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Liu D, Liu T, Zhang H, Chengling LV, Zeng W, Zhang J (2012) Gas sensing mechanism and properties of Ce-doped SnO2 sensors for volatile organic compounds. Mater Sci Semicond Process 15:438–444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Bittencourt C, Llobet E, Silva MAP, Landers R, Nieto L, Vicaro KO, Sueiras JE, Calderer J, Correig X (2003) Influence of the deposition method on the morphology and elemental composition of SnO2 films for gas sensing: atomic force and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy analysis. Sens Actuators B Chem 92:67–72

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ghimbeu CM, Schoonman J, Martine L, Maryam S (2007) Electrostatic spray deposited zinc oxide films for gas sensor applications. Appl Surf Sci 253:7483–7489

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Ferro RJ, Rodriguez A, Jimenez I, Cirera A, Cerda J, Morante JR (2005) Gas- sensing properties of sprayed films of (CdO) x (ZnO)1-x mixed oxide. IEEE Sensors J 5:48–52

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Gong H, Hu JQ, Wang JH, Ong CH, Zhu FR (2006) Nano-crystalline cu-doped ZnO thin film gas sensor for CO. Sens Actuators B Chem 115:247–251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Raghu S, Santhosh PN, Ramaprabhu S (2016) Nanostructured palladium modified graphitic carbon nitride–high performance room temperature hydrogen sensor. Int J Hydrog Energy 41(45):20779–20786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Lange U, Hirsch T, Mirsky VM, Wolfbeis OS (2011) Hydrogen sensor based on a graphene–palladium nanocomposite. Electrochim Acta 56(10):3707–3712

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Hong J, Lee S, Seo J, Pyo S, Kim J, Lee T (2015) A highly sensitive hydrogen sensor with gas selectivity using a PMMA membrane-coated Pd nanoparticle/single-layer graphene hybrid. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 7(6):3554–3561

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Van der Bent JF, Puik E, Tong HD, van Rijn CJM (2015) Temperature balanced hydrogen sensor system with coupled palladium nanowires. Sensors Actuators A Phys 226:98–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Raghu S, Santhosh PN, Ramaprabhu S (2016) Nanostructured palladium modified graphitic carbon nitride high performance room temperature hydrogen sensor. Int J Hydrog Energy 41:20779–20786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Hong J, Lee S, Seo J, Pyo S, Kim J, Lee T (2015) A highly sensitive hydrogen sensor with gas selectivity using a PMMA membrane-coated Pd nanoparticle/single-layer graphene hybrid. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 7:3554–3561

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Chung MG, Kim DH, Seo DK, Kim T, Im HU, Lee HM, Yoo JB, Hong SH, Kang TJ, Kim YH (2012) Flexible hydrogen sensors using graphene with palladium nanoparticle decoration. Sensors Actuators B 169:387–392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Majumdar S, Nag P, Devi PS (2014) Enhanced performance of CNT/SnO2 thick film gas sensors towards hydrogen. Mater Chem Phys 147:79–85

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. El-Maghraby EM, Qurashi A, Yamazaki T (2013) Synthesis of SnO2−nanowires their structural and H2 gas sensing properties. Ceram Int 39:8475–8480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Sripada R, Parambath VB, Baro M, Nair SPN, Sundara R (2015) Platinum and platinum-iron alloy nanoparticles dispersed nitrogen-doped graphene as high-performance room temperature hydrogen sensor. Int J Hydrog Energy 40:10346–10353

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Dhall S, Jaggi N (2015) Room temperature hydrogen gas sensing properties of Pt sputtered F-MWCNTs/SnO2 network. Sensors Actuators B 210:742–747

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research work was supported by Uma.V and Pradeep.N, Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, India, who provided expertise which greatly assisted the research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Nanotechnology Research, VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India

    Revathy Deivasegamani, Tamilselvi Gopal, Divyalakshmi Saravana achari, Ajita Neogi, Ravi Nivetha & Andrews Nirmala Grace

  2. Department of Electronics, Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, 560052, India

    Revathy Deivasegamani, Tamilselvi Gopal, Divyalakshmi Saravana achari & Uma Venkatraman

  3. School of Electronics Engineering, VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India

    Govardhan Karunanidhi

  4. Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Chella Santhosh & Amit Bhatnagar

  5. Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, 560052, India

    Natarajan Pradeep

  6. Green Energy Process Laboratory, Korea Institute of Energy Research, 152, Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34129, Republic of Korea

    Soon Kwan Jeong

Authors
  1. Revathy Deivasegamani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Govardhan Karunanidhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chella Santhosh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tamilselvi Gopal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Divyalakshmi Saravana achari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ajita Neogi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ravi Nivetha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Natarajan Pradeep
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Uma Venkatraman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Amit Bhatnagar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Soon Kwan Jeong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Andrews Nirmala Grace
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Chella Santhosh, Amit Bhatnagar or Andrews Nirmala Grace.

Ethics declarations

The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOCX 5.69 mb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Deivasegamani, R., Karunanidhi, G., Santhosh, C. et al. Chemoresistive sensor for hydrogen using thin films of tin dioxide doped with cerium and palladium. Microchim Acta 184, 4765–4773 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2514-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2514-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation