One-pot hydrothermal method synthesised SnS/rGO nanocomposite under PVDF bonding for high-performance acetone gas sensor

Highlights: • Flower-like SnS microspheres and SnS/rGO were synthesised by a hydrothermal method. • The PVDF was used to glue the sample powder and the gas sensors instead of DI water. • SnS/rGO has a large specific surface area (83.26 m²/g). • The response of SnS/rGO sensor to 25 ppm acetone is 20.2 under 100 °C. To overcome the obstacle of the flower-like tin sulfide microspheres (SnS) gas sensor with high operating temperature, SnS composited with reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (SnS/rGO) were firstly successfully synthesised via a one-pot hydrothermal method and used in acetone gas sensor. Its morphology, structure and chemical composition were determined through different technologies. With subsequent, the PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride) was used to glue the sample powder on the surface of the ceramic tube. The results obtained are promising and the response of SnS/rGO sensor to 25 ppm acetone is 20.2 at 100 °C. The enhanced performance of SnS/rGO sensor and low operational temperature can be contributed to three aspects: firstly, SnS anchoring on rGO constitutes many heterojunctions may be the main reason to improve the gas sensing performance, and rGO improves the electron transmission efficiency, which can also reduce the combine with holes; secondly, the strong adsorption properties of rGO provides a weak Van der Waals force for the attachment of the target gas; lastly, a larger specific surface area (83.26 m²/g) than the SnS further improves the gas sensing properties of the material.