A highly sensitive room temperature H2S gas sensor based on SnO2 multi-tube arrays bio-templated from insect bristles

Dalton Trans. 2015 May 7;44(17):7911-6. doi: 10.1039/c5dt00354g.

Abstract

A tin oxide multi-tube array (SMTA) with a parallel effect was fabricated through a simple and promising method combining chemosynthesis and biomimetic techniques; a biomimetic template was derived from the bristles on the wings of the Alpine Black Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio maackii). SnO2 tubes are hollow and porous structures with micro-pores regularly distributed on the wall. The morphology, the delicate microstructure and the crystal structure of this SMTA were characterized by super resolution digital microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The SMTA exhibits a high sensitivity to H2S gas at room temperature. It also exhibits a short response/recovery time, with an average value of 14/30 s at 5 ppm. In particular, heating is not required for the SMTA in the gas sensitivity measurement process. On the basis of these results, SMTA is proposed as a suitable new material for the design and fabrication of room-temperature H2S gas sensors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomimetics*
  • Butterflies
  • Gases
  • Hydrogen Sulfide / chemistry*
  • Insecta
  • Materials Testing
  • Microscopy
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Nanostructures / chemistry
  • Porosity
  • Temperature
  • Tin Compounds / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Gases
  • Tin Compounds
  • stannic oxide
  • Hydrogen Sulfide