Graphene-loaded tin oxide nanofibers: optimization and sensing performance

Abstract

We investigated the gas sensing characteristics of graphene nanosheet (NS)-loaded SnO₂ nanofibers (NFs) that were synthesized by a low-cost facile electrospinning process. The sensing performance was characterized as a function of the graphene content with various gases such as C₆H₆, C₇H₈, CO, CO₂, and H₂S. The loading of graphene NSs significantly improved the gas sensing performances of SnO₂ NFs. The optimal amount of graphene NSs was found to be 0.5 wt%. We proposed a sensing mechanism for the enhanced sensing performance based on the chemical sensitization of graphene NSs and the charge transfer through the heterointerfaces between graphene NSs and SnO₂ nanograins. The results show that graphene NS-loaded SnO₂ NFs are a promising sensing material system that can detect hazardous gaseous species.