Effect of Au and NiO catalysts on the NO2 sensing properties of nanocrystalline SnO2

Nanocrystalline tin dioxide has been synthesized, and its surface has been modified with Au and NiO. Their distributions in the nanocrystalline tin dioxide have been examined by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The NO₂ sensing properties of the materials have been studied in the range 100–1000 ppb. Both gold and nickel enhance the NO₂ response of SnO₂. Codoping with Au and NiO markedly enhances its sensing response and, in addition, lowers the peak response temperature. The observed effect of NO₂ concentration in dry air on the sensing response of the SnO₂〈Au, NiO〉 nanocomposite can be understood in terms of the sequence of processes that take place on the SnO₂ surface upon nitrogen dioxide adsorption in the presence of chemisorbed oxygen.