High performance with lower power consumption is one
among the
essential features of a sensing device. Minute traces of hazardous
gases such as NO2 are difficult to detect. Tin disulfide
(SnS2) nanosheets have emerged as a promising NO2 sensor. However, their poor room-temperature conductivity gives
rise to inferior sensitivity and sluggish recovery rates, thereby
hindering their applications. To mitigate this problem, we present
a low-cost ultrasensitive NO2 gas sensor with tin disulfide/multiwalled
carbon nanotube (SnS2/MWCNT) nanocomposites, prepared using
a single-step hydrothermal method, as sensing elements. Relative to
pure SnS2, the conductivity of nanocomposites improved
significantly. The sensor displayed a decrease in resistance when
exposed to NO2, an oxidizing gas, and exhibited p-type
conduction, also confirmed in separate Mott–Schottky measurements.
At a temperature of 20 °C, the sensor device has a relative response
of about ≈5% (3%) for 25 ppb (1 ppb) of NO2 with
complete recovery in air (10 min) and excellent recovery rates with
UV activation (0.3 min). A theoretical lower limit of detection (LOD)
of 7 ppt implies greater sensitivity than all previously reported
SnS2-based gas sensors, to the best of our knowledge. The
improved sensing characteristics were attributed to the formation
of nano p–n heterojunctions, which enhances the charge transport
and gives rise to faster response. The composite sensor also demonstrated
good NO2 selectivity against a variety of oxidizing and
reducing gases, as well as excellent stability and long-term durability.
This work will provide a fresh perspective on SnS2-based
composite materials for practical gas sensors.