Room temperature nanoarchitectonics of ultrafine SnO2 and Cu-doped SnO2 crystallites for advanced H2S sensing

Abstract

We report a generalized route for synthesizing pure SnO₂ and Cu (1 and 3 at%) doped SnO₂ at room temperature with crystallite size in a nanometer range of 1.0–3.0 nm using CuCl₂, nitric acid and Sn metal. The structural properties of these samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The open system was used to monitor heat generation. Thin films of SnO₂ and SnO₂:xCu nanocrystallites were prepared using a mixture of surfactant (docusate sodium salt), SnO₂, water and cyclohexane. H₂S sensing at room temperature was performed. The Cu-doped SnO₂ sample showed higher sensitivity than pure SnO₂, and its sensitivity was more than that of the reported ones.