A comparative study of RGO-SnO2 and MWCNT-SnO2 nanocomposites based SO2 gas sensors

An attempt has been made in the present work to develop a hybrid nanocomposite sensor by exploiting the novel properties of Tin oxide (SnO2), MWCNTs (Carbon nanotubes) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) for the efficient detection of SO2 gas. MWCNT-SnO2 and RGO-SnO2 hybrid nanocomposite sensors have been prepared by incorporating MWCNTs and RGO into SnO2 nanoparticle colloidal solution respectively by chemical route. Low sensing response of 1.2 is obtained for bare SnO2 sensor at 220 degrees C towards 500 ppm SO2 gas. However, enhanced sensing response of similar to 22 has been observed for the RGOSn02 sensor compared to similar to 5 obtained for MWCNT-SnO2 sensor at a lower operating temperature of 60 degrees C towards the same concentration of SO2 gas. Modulation of space charge region at the interface of n-SnO2 and p-RGO on interaction with the target SO2 gas is responsible for the enhanced response. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.