Bimetallic Pd/Pt nanoparticle-functionalized SnO2 nanowires for fast response and recovery to NO2

Bimetallic Pd/Pt nanoparticles were used to functionalize networked SnO2 nanowires in order to realize a fast response and recovery ability in their NO2-sensing performance. Pd and Pt nanoparticles with diameters of 10–40 nm were uniformly decorated on networked SnO2 nanowires via a sequential γ-ray radiolysis. The NO2-sensing performance in terms of response and recovery times of the bimetallic Pd/Pt-functionalized SnO2 nanowire sensor was compared to the ones based on bare SnO2 nanowires, or functionalized by either Pd or Pt nanoparticles, respectively. The bimetallic functionalized SnO2 nanowire sensor revealed faster response (13 s) and recovery (9 s) times due to the synergic effect of individual Pd and Pt nanoparticles. The results indicate that the approach of a functionalization by bimetallic nanoparticles has a promising potential to enhance the sensing performances of oxide nanowires.