Nanosized Pd/SnO2 Materials for Semiconductor Hydrogen Sensors

Abstract

To create highly sensitive semiconductor hydrogen sensors, nanosized tin dioxides with particle sizes of 5-6 and 10-11 nm have been obtained by the sol-gel method using various precursors, as well as Pd-doped materials on their base. The maximum sensitivity to the hydrogen microconcentrations has been found for the sensors based on the nanosized ex-oxalate SnO₂ containing 0.24% palladium. High sensitivity of the obtained semiconductor sensors is explained by the significant influence of surface processes on their electrical resistance due to the smallest sizes of the SnO₂ particles.