Study of the synthesis and Cl2 gas-sensing properties of nanometer HNO3-doped SnO2

We focused on the effects of the inorganic acid HNO3 on the gas-sensing properties of nanometer SnO2 and prepared the powders via a dissolution-pyrolysis method. Furthermore, the powders were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectra (EDS). Several aspects were surveyed, including the calcining temperature, concentration of nitric acid and the working temperature. The results showed that the gas response of 3 wt% HNO3-doped SnO2 powders (calcined at 500 degrees C) to 10 ppm Cl-2 reached 316.5, at the working temperature 175 degrees C. Compared with pure SnO2, appropriate HNO3 could increase the gas sensitivity to Cl-2 gas more significantly. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.