Effective hydrogen gas sensor based on palladium nanoparticles dispersed on graphene sheets by spin coating technique

A room-temperature hydrogen gas (H ) sensor was successfully fabricated by dispersion of palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) on graphene sheets (GRs) (hereafter referred to as “Pd NPs/GRs”). GRs and Pd NPs were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition technique and by polyol process, respectively. A colloidal solution of Pd NPs with an average diameter of 11 nm was then dispersed onto the GRs by spin coating technique. The density of dispersed Pd NPs on GRs was controlled by varying the volume of the dispersed solution within the range of 50 – 150 μL. The fabricated Pd NPs/GRs sensors exhibited a high sensitivity for H gas with a concentration of 1500 – 6000 ppm at room temperature. Upon H exposure, the Pd NPs/GRs sensors showed an increase in electrical resistance, which could easily be measured. The relationship between sensor response and H concentration is in correspondence with the Langmuir adsorption model. The H detection limit is estimated to be 1 ppm. The results demonstrate that the Pd NPs/GRs sensor is an easily fabricated, but very effective means for room-temperature detection of H at ppm level.