Ultra-fast response and highly selectivity hydrogen gas sensor based on Pd/SnO2 nanoparticles

It is still a challenging task to achieve the rapid detection of hydrogen (H-2) with the rapid development of hydrogen energy sector. In this work, the H-2 sensing capabilities of pristine and Pd-modified SnO2 nanoparticles with the size of similar to 7 nm were systematically evaluated. The SnO2 nanoparticles were synthesized via hydrothermal method and Pd modification was performed using impregnation route. Pd modification remarkably upgraded the H-2 sensing performances compared with the pristine SnO2 gas sensor. The working temperature of SnO2 decreased from 300 degrees C to 125 degrees C after Pd loading. Among the prepared Pd/ SnO2 gas sensors, 0.50 at.% Pd/SnO2 sensor exhibited the highest response magnitude of 254 toward 500 ppm H-2 and rapid response/recovery time of 1/22 s at 125 degrees C. The enhanced H-2 sensing capabilities by Pd modification may be related to the catalytic effect and the resistance modulation. (C) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.