Sensors & Transducers
Vol. 246, Issue 7, November 2020, pp. 71-78
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Graphene-Tin Oxide Composite Nanofibers for Low Temperature Detection of NO 2 and O 3
1, *
Sergio MASA,
2
Diego ROBÉS,
1
Esther HONTAÑÓN,
3
Jesús LOZANO,
​
4
Siamak EQTESADI and
2
Adolfo NARROS
1
Spanish National Research Council, Dept. of Sensors and Ultrasonic Systems, C/Serrano 144, Madrid, 28006, Spain
2
Polytechnic University of Madrid, Dept. of Chemical Industrial and Environmental Engineering, C/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid, 28006, Spain
3
University of Extremadura, Dept. of Electrical, Electronic and Automation Engineering, Av. de Elvas s/n, Badajoz, 06006, Spain
4
Abalonyx AS, Forskningsveien 1, 0373, Oslo, Norway
* E-mail: sergio.masa@csic.es
Received: 28 September 2020 /Accepted: 9 November 2020 /Published: 30 November 2020
Abstract:
In this work we investigate the detection performance of nanofibers of tin oxide (SnO
2
) towards sub-0.1 ppm nitrogen oxide (NO
2
) and ozone (O
3
) in air. It is found that SnO
2
nanofibers are more sensitive to O
3
than to NO
2
. and the optimal working temperature differs significantly between the two gases: 200
0
C (NO
2
) and 350
0
C (O
3
). SnO
2
nanofibers loaded with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) show higher sensitivity than nanofibers of pure SnO
2
at low temperatures and the optimal working temperature diminishes by around 150
0
C for the two gases. The air humidity does not modify the optimum working temperature of rGO-loaded SnO
2
nanofibers but it affects their sensitivity at temperatures below 150
0
C. Irradiation with UV light is a promising method to activate gas desorption from rGO-loaded SnO
2
nanofibers so that this material could be used in chemiresistive sensors for low temperature detection of air pollutants.
Keywords:
Tin oxide nanofibers, Reduced graphene oxide, Electrospinning, UV irradiation, Air pollution.
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