Room temperature hydrogen gas sensing properties of Pt sputtered F-MWCNTs/SnO2 network

In the present work, hydrogen gas sensor of modest sensitivity utilizing partially coated functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes with tin oxide nanoparticles (F-MWCNTs/SnO2) has been investigated. To further enhance its sensitivity, platinum (Pt) metal has been deposited via sputtering on F-MWCNTs/SnO2 network. In addition, after Pt deposition the sensitivity of F-MWCNTs/SnO2 sensor is increased from 2.9% to 5.4% for 0.05% concentration of H2 gas. Moreover, the F-MWCNTs/SnO2/Pt sensor shows low recovery time, complete resistance recovery, baseline stability in N2 atmosphere and good repeatability when exposed to H2 gas at the room temperature. This sensing material was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To the best of our knowledge, detection of such low concentration of H2 gas is reported here for the first time using F-MWCNTs/SnO2/Pt hybrid nanostructure at room temperature.