Abstract

SnO₂ nanoparticles-reduced graphene oxide (SnO₂-rGO) nanocomposites have been successfully prepared by a facile method via hydrothermal treatment of aqueous dispersion of GO in the presence of Sn salts. The combined characterizations including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicate the successful formation of SnO₂-rGO nanocomposites. To demonstrate the product on sensing application, gas sensors are fabricated using SnO₂-rGO nanocomposites as sensing materials and investigated for detection of NO₂ at low operating temperature (50 °C). It is found that SnO₂-rGO nanocomposites exhibit high response of 3.31 at 5 ppm NO₂, which is much higher than that of rGO (1.13), and rapid response, good selectivity and reproducibility. Furthermore, the reason for enhancing sensing performance by addition of SnO₂ nanoparticles has also been discussed.