UV-light-activated H2S gas sensing by a TiO2 nanoparticulate thin film at room temperature

A UV-light-activated TiO2 thin film gas sensor composed of nanoparticles is reported for H2S detection at room temperature. TiO2 nanoparticulate thin films were fabricated by bar coating of a mixture of TiO2 powder and acetic acid. The morphology and structural properties of the films were examined by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and absorption spectroscopy. The nil response to H2S was significantly enhanced by UV light irradiation in the response levels and response/recovery kinetics. The effect of the sensor conductance and light intensity towards sensor optimization was discussed. The sensor exhibited high gas selectivity, repeatability, and linearity for practical applications of the sensor, but the interference of humidity on the sensing process needs to be solved. The results exhibited a simple way to detect parts per million concentrations of H2S at room temperature. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.