Silver loading tin oxide nanostructure for gas sensing application

In the present work, Ag loading SnO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized using simple hydrothermal method with different Ag weight percentage concentrations (2, 4, and 6) wt%. The structural and morphological properties of the prepared samples were characterized and analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction. The XRD analysis showed a tetragonal rutile phase of SnO₂ with high crystalline, and the grain size was observed to decrease with the increase of Ag concentration. FE-SEM images depict the formation of spherically shaped and small-sized nanoparticles with average diameter of 69-77 nm and its decrease to 24 nm after doping with Ag. The gas sensing result showed maximum sensitivity to NO₂ gas for the sample with 6 wt% Ag concentration at operating temperature 100 °C and NO₂ gas concentration 50 ppm. (author)