Ultrasensitive and selective hydrogen sensing of SnO2 nanofibers decorated with Pd single atoms

Highly accurate and sensitive hydrogen detection particularly at (sub)ppb level is crucial for large-scale use of green hydrogen energy. However, state-of-the-art hydrogen sensors usually have a ppm-level limit of detection (LOD). In this work, SnO2 nanofibers were decorated with Pd single atoms usi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Vol. 416; p. 136022
Main Authors: Xiang, Tao, Yi, Jianxin
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2024
Subjects:
ISSN:0925-4005, 1873-3077
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Highly accurate and sensitive hydrogen detection particularly at (sub)ppb level is crucial for large-scale use of green hydrogen energy. However, state-of-the-art hydrogen sensors usually have a ppm-level limit of detection (LOD). In this work, SnO2 nanofibers were decorated with Pd single atoms using a scalable two-step annealing method, which remarkably boosted the H2 sensing properties. The Pd-SnO2 nanofiber sensor exhibited a response of 224 to 1000 ppm H2 at the optimum operation temperature of 300°C, which was 107 times higher than that of SnO2, achieving an LOD as low as 0.6 ppb. Moreover, a fast response time of 8.4 s, excellent selectivity, and humidity tolerance were observed. The superior H2 sensing performance of Pd-SnO2 nanofiber was ascribed to excellent catalysis of Pd single atoms and formation of heterojunction. •SnO2 nanofibers decorated with Pd single atoms were fabricated.•Pd-SnO2 exhibited 107-fold higher response to 1000 ppm H2 at 300 °C than SnO2.•A limit of detection down to 0.6 ppb H2 was obtained.•Superior performance was ascribed to Pd catalysis and heterojunction formation.
ISSN:0925-4005
1873-3077
DOI:10.1016/j.snb.2024.136022