Room temperature methane sensor based on single wall CNTs/SnO2 nanoparticles

Fabrication and characterisation of a new methane sensor based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is proposed. The sensor uses low-cost SnO2 nanoparticles and it can detect 0.5% of methane at room temperature. SnO2 nanoparticles were deposited by electron beam deposition. The crystallography of CNT and SnO2 was investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis. The presence of SnO2 nanoparticles on CNTs was confirmed by scanning electron microscope images. The study’s room temperature sensor is applicable in explosive environments like refineries. Furthermore, it is easily reversible (i.e. it can return to its initial state) in air at room temperature. Low power consumption and high sensitivity are also the other advantages of this sensor. Finally, a charge transfer mechanism is proposed to describe the sensing behaviour.