Mesostructured tin oxide as sensitive material for C2H5OH sensor

Mesostructured tin oxide with high specific surface area was synthesized using cationic surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB: CH3(CH2)15N+(CH3)3Br−) as the organic template and hydrous tin chloride (SnCl4·5H2O) and NH4OH as the inorganic precursors under acidic conditions at ambient temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) and N2-sorption isotherms were used to characterize the mesostructured tin oxide that was formed at room temperature as well as calcined at different temperature. The surface area of mesostructured tin oxide calcined at 400 °C is 136 m2 g−1. The indirect heating sensor using this material as sensitive body was fabricated on an alumna tube with Au electrodes and platinum wires. Electrical and sensing properties of such a sensor were investigated. It was found that the mesostructured tin oxide with high surface area had higher sensitivity to C2H5OH and selectivity to gasoline than commercial sample of polycrystalline tin(IV) oxide.