Enhanced CO gas sensing properties of Cu doped SnO2 nanostructures prepared by a facile wet chemical method.

We report the synthesis of Cu doped SnO2 nanostructures with enhanced CO gas sensing properties by a facile wet chemical method. The effects of Cu doping on the structural and optical properties of SnO2 nanostructures were investigated using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution TEM (HRTEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. FESEM studies revealed the presence of nanosheets and nanodisc-like structures in Cu doped SnO2 samples. Gas sensing studies showed that the sensor prepared using 1% Cu doped SnO2 nanostructures exhibits highly enhanced CO gas sensing properties as compared to pure SnO2 nanostructures and shows excellent selectivity for CO with negligible interference from CH4, CO2 and NO2. The possible mechanism for the enhanced CO gas sensing properties of Cu doped SnO2 nanostructures is proposed.