High-temperature hydrogen sensor based on platinum nanoparticle-decorated SiC nanowire device

A single SiC nanowire gas sensor was fabricated, and its fast-response and ultrahigh sensitivity for hydrogen sensing at high temperature was demonstrated. The surface of SiC nanowire was decorated with Pt nanoparticles as a hydrogen catalyst. The decorated SiC nanowire was mounted on Ag electrodes in ohmic contact. Changes in the current were monitored at the low hydrogen concentration with a 1 V forward bias. An obvious change in current was observed when the nanowire sensor was exposed to the low hydrogen concentration atmosphere. High sensing performances such as fast response (3 s) and recovery (45 s), and high sensitivity (S approximate to 20%) toward H-2 were demonstrated at 600 degrees C. The hydrogen gas sensing characteristics in air as a background gas were investigated. The possible Pt catalytic hydrogen sensing mechanism of the SiC nanowire sensor was also discussed. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.