Synthesis of SnO2 nanorods and application to H2 sensor

SnO2 nanorods were synthesized on oxidized silicon substrates by thermal evaporation of tin grains at 900 °C in argon–oxygen flow and then investigated for their H2 sensing properties. X-ray diffraction shows that SnO2 nanorods have a tetragonal structure. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrates that SnO2 nanorods are about 30 nm in diameter and several tens to several hundreds nanometers in length. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed that the obtained SnO2 nanorods are composed of pure SnO2. H2 sensing measurements indicate that SnO2 nanorod gas sensor obtains the highest response of 6.54 to 3000 ppm H2 at a relatively low operating temperature of 200 °C and shows reversible response to H2 at various operating temperatures and H2 concentrations.