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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
Exploring SnxTi1−xO2 Solid Solutions Grown onto Graphene Oxide (GO) as Selective Toluene Gas Sensors
Contributor:
Pargoletti, Eleonora;
Verga, Simone;
Chiarello, Gian Luca;
Longhi, Mariangela;
Cerrato, Giuseppina;
Giordana, Alessia;
Cappelletti, Giuseppe
Published:
MDPI AG, 2020
Published in:
Nanomaterials, 10 (2020) 4, Seite 761
Language:
English
DOI:
10.3390/nano10040761
ISSN:
2079-4991
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
The major drawback of oxide-based sensors is the lack of selectivity. In this context, SnxTi1−xO2/graphene oxide (GO)-based materials were synthesized via a simple hydrothermal route, varying the titanium content in the tin dioxide matrix. Then, toluene and acetone gas sensing performances of the as-prepared sensors were systematically investigated. Specifically, by using 32:1 SnO2/GO and 32:1 TiO2/GO, a greater selectivity towards acetone analyte, also at room temperature, was obtained even at ppb level. However, solid solutions possessing a higher content of tin relative to titanium (as 32:1 Sn0.55Ti0.45O2/GO) exhibited higher selectivity towards bigger and non-polar molecules (such as toluene) at 350 °C, rather than acetone. A deep experimental investigation of structural (XRPD and Raman), morphological (SEM, TEM, BET surface area and pores volume) and surface (XPS analyses) properties allowed us to give a feasible explanation of the different selectivity. Moreover, by exploiting the UV light, the lowest operating temperature to obtain a significant and reliable signal was 250 °C, keeping the greater selectivity to the toluene analyte. Hence, the feasibility of tuning the chemical selectivity by engineering the relative amount of SnO2 and TiO2 is a promising feature that may guide the future development of miniaturized chemoresistors.