Custom designed metal anchored SnO2 sensor for H2 detection.

Herein, we report sputter deposited SnO 2 thin film based sensor structures anchored with different metal clusters (Pt, Au, Cu, In, W and Cr) for efficient detection of H 2 gas. Controlled decoration of ∼9 nm thin Pt clusters having 200 μm dia on the top surface of SnO 2 thin film exhibited dramatically outperformed results. The Pt/SnO 2 sensor shows an improvement upto two orders in sensing response S∼1.68 × 10 2 towards 500 ppm of H 2 gas at a relatively low operating temperature of 110 °C. The sensor exhibited excellent gas sensing characteristics in the concentration range 2–5000 ppm H 2 at operating temperatures of 70–230 °C. The sensor revealed negligible cross sensing signals against other interfering gases like acetone, IPA, TCE, NO 2 , methane, LPG, petrol and NH 3 . The structural and surface morphological studies of SnO 2 thin films were carried out. Reliability analysis and selectivity demonstration by Pt/SnO 2 sensor was found to be consistent over long term. The work envisions towards realization of targeted H 2 detection system at low temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]