Synthesis and Sensing Properties of SnO2 Hollow Nanospheres

SnO2 hollow nanospheres were prepared by loading SnCl4 on the surface of carbonaceous polysaccharide microspheres used as template. During the loading process, different kinds of solvent (ethonal or dimethylfomamide) were used to disperse the carbonaceous polysaccharide microspheres and SnCl4. Carbonaceous polysaccharide microspheres were synthesized from glucose solution by hydrothermal method at different temperature (190 or 180 degrees C) for 8 h. Pd-doped SnO2 hollow nanospheres were also prepared by similar method for comparison. The surface morphology of SnO2 hollow nanosphere was characterized by scanning electronic microscopy. The sensing properties of the sensor devices using the as-prepared SnO2 hollow nanospheres to H-2 were investigated at the optimal working temperature. The difference of the sensing properties could be attributed to the difference of the particle size for the synthesized SnO2 hollow spheres. The doping of Pd into the SnO2 hollow spheres could not only lower the working temperature, but also improve the response to the target gas.