In situ immobilization of tin dioxide nanoparticles by nanoporous polymers scaffold toward monolithic humidity sensing devices

• In situ immobilization of SnO2 nanoparticles in nanoporous polymers scaffold for humidity sensing devices.
• Formation of monolithic composites could simplify the fabrication of nanoparticles-based sensing devices.
• Nanoporous polymer matrices could improve the adsorptive property of sensing materials.

Reported here is in situ immobilization of tin dioxide (SnO2) nanoparticles (NPs) within nanoporous polymer scaffolds for the development of monolithic humidity sensing devices. Through solvothermal polymerization of divinylbenzene (DVB) monomers in the interspaces of SnO2 fine powders, SnO2 NPs could be homogeneously immobilized in polymer matrices, forming a novel composite material. Immobilization of SnO2 NPs in nanoporous polymer matrices not only simplifies the fabrication process of NPs-based sensing devices, but also improves their adsorptive properties. The resultant nanoporous polymer/SnO2 NPs composites with adjustable SnO2 contents possess high BET surface areas, large pore sizes and pore volumes, thus they exhibit high adsorptive capacities for H2O vapor. As a general approach to NPs/nanoporous polymer composites, this work may open up a new way to nanomaterial-based sensing devices that features enhanced adsorptive property.

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