Nano SnO2 Gas Sensors

Gas sensor technology has been developed remarkably in recent years due to its wide applications in modern society. To meet the demand of low-level detection, gas sensor is still required to minimize the size in order to match the uses in micro-/nano- devices. This article reviews the development of nano SnO2 gas sensors to H2, CO, NO2, and ethanol gas/vapour. The emphasis has been put upon the material preparations, sensing mechanisms and properties based on different kinds of SnO2 nanostructures (e.g. nanoparticles, nanowires & nanofibers, nanobelts & nanoribbons, and nanorods & nanocolumns). It is demonstrated that very high sensitivity and selectivity as well as fast response can be achieved when the n-type semiconductor SnO2 is in the form of nanostructures.