p-CoOx/n-SnO2 nanostructures: New highly selective materials for H2S detection

Nanostructures p-CoOx/n-SnO2 based on tin oxide nanowires have been prepared by two step CVD technique and characterized in detail by XRD, XRF, XPS, HAADF-STEM imaging and EDX-STEM mapping. Depending on the temperature of decomposition of cobalt complex during the second step of CVD synthesis of nanostructures cobalt oxide forms a coating and/or isolated nanoparticles on SnO2 nanowire surface. It was found that cobalt presents in +2 and +3 oxidation states. The measurements of gas sensor properties have been carried out during exposure to CO (14 ppm), NH3 (21 ppm), and H2S (2 ppm) in dry air. The opposite trends were observed in the effect of cobalt oxide on the SnO2 gas sensitivity when detecting CO or NH3 in comparison to H2S. The decrease of sensor signal toward CO and NH3 was attributed to high catalytic activity of Co3O4 in oxidation of these gases. Contrary, the significant increase of sensor signal in the presence of H2S was attributed to the formation of metallic cobalt sulfide and removal of the barrier between p-CoOx and n-SnO2. This effect provides an excellent selectivity of p-CoOx/n-SnO2 nanostructures in H2S detection.