Dependence of the selectivity of SnO2 nanorod gas sensors on functionalization materials

Effects of functionalization materials on the selectivity of SnO₂ nanorod gas sensors were examined by comparing the responses of SnO₂ one-dimensional nanostructures functionalized with CuO and Pd to ethanol and H₂S gases. The response of pristine SnO₂ nanorods to 500 ppm ethanol was similar to 100 ppm H₂S. CuO-functionalized SnO₂ nanorods showed a slightly stronger response to 100 ppm H₂S than to 500 ppm ethanol. In contrast, Pd-functionalized SnO₂ nanorods showed a considerably stronger response to 500 ppm ethanol than to 100 ppm H₂S. In other words, the H₂S selectivity of SnO₂ nanorods over ethanol is enhanced by functionalization with CuO, whereas the ethanol selectivity of SnO₂ nanorods over H₂S is enhanced by functionalization with Pd. This result shows that the selectivity of SnO₂ nanorods depends strongly on the functionalization material. The ethanol and H₂S gas sensing mechanisms of CuO- and Pd-functionalized SnO₂ nanorods are also discussed.