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.

Automated summary

This study evaluates the performance of different hydrogen sensing materials and finds that Pd-modified SnO2 nanoparticles exhibit enhanced H-2 sensing capabilities at lower working temperatures.