Enhanced gas sensing by assembling Pd nanoparticles onto the surface of SnO2 nanowires

SnO2 nanowires with an average 0.6 μm in length and about 25 nm in diameter were prepared by a hydrothermal method. The sensors were fabricated using SnO2 nanowires assembled with Pd nanocrystals. The sensing properties of the sensors such as selectivity, response–recovery time and stability were tested at 290 °C. After assembling Pd nanocrystals onto the surface of SnO2 nanowires, the gas sensing properties of the sensors toward H2S were improved. The sensors based on Pd nanoparticle@SnO2 nanowires exhibit high stability owing to stable single crystal structure. The mechanism of promoting sensing properties with Pd nanoparticles is discussed.