Development of SnO2 Nanomaterials for Gas and Odor Sensors

Expectations for the sensing of very small amounts of gases and odors are increasing in many fields such as medicine, healthcare, and mobility. In recent years, nanomaterials with various forms such as needle-like, belt-like, sheet-like, and dendrite-like have been developed. These nanomaterials have been used to detect very small amounts of gas with a semiconductor gas sensor. In addition, detection of various gases and odor molecules has been realized using these gas sensors. In particular, in the field of ceramics, which requires high-temperature firing at several hundred degrees Celsius, the realization of cold crystallization, which has been a longstanding issue, has had a great impact. Nanomaterials with high surface area, unique shape, metastable crystal facets, etc. have been developed with cold crystallization of ceramics. These nanomaterials have improved the low-concentration gas detection characteristics of gas sensors and odor sensors. In this review, I would like to introduce the fabrication of new SnO2 nanomaterials and the development of gas and odor sensors using the SnO2 nanomaterials. ©2023 Japan Society of Powder and Powder Metallurgy.