Design of high-sensitivity ethanol sensor based on Pr-doped SnO2 hollow beaded tubular nanostructure

Pr-doped SnO2 hollow beaded tubular nanostructure was synthesized by electrospinning technique, accompanied by using carbon spheres as sacrificial templates. The crystalline phase, morphology, microstructure, and element composition of the samples were explored and analyzed. The gas sensitivity test results show that Pr-doped SnO2 sensor exhibits high response value, excellent selectivity and rapid response-recovery ability to ethanol at 200 °C. The sensor can effectively detect ethanol vapor as low as 2 ppm. Response/recovery time to 100 ppm ethanol are about 12 s/8 s, respectively. The possible enhancement mechanism caused by the synergistic effect of the unique nanostructure, the carbon templates, and Pr dopant are discussed. The research may provide a better design of ethanol sensors.