Graphene-loaded tin oxide nanofibers: optimization and sensing performance

We investigated the gas sensing characteristics of graphene nanosheet (NS)-loaded SnO2 nanofibers (NFs) that were synthesized by a low-cost facile electrospinning process. The sensing performance was characterized as a function of the graphene content with various gases such as C6H6, C7H8, CO, CO2, and H2S. The loading of graphene NSs significantly improved the gas sensing performances of SnO2 NFs. The optimal amount of graphene NSs was found to be 0.5 wt%. We proposed a sensing mechanism for the enhanced sensing performance based on the chemical sensitization of graphene NSs and the charge transfer through the heterointerfaces between graphene NSs and SnO2 nanograins. The results show that graphene NS-loaded SnO2 NFs are a promising sensing material system that can detect hazardous gaseous species.