Design of a Metal-Oxide Solid Solution for Sub-ppm H(2) Detection

[Image: see text] Hydrogen is largely adopted in industrial processes and is one of the leading options for storing renewable energy. Due to its high explosivity, detection of H(2) has become essential for safety in industries, storage, and transportation. This work aims to design a sensing film for high-sensitivity H(2) detection. Chemoresistive gas sensors have extensively been studied for H(2) monitoring due to their good sensitivity and low cost. However, further research and development are still needed for a reliable H(2) detection at sub-ppm concentrations. Metal-oxide solid solutions represent a valuable approach for tuning the sensing properties by modifying their composition, morphology, and structure. The work started from a solid solution of Sn and Ti oxides, which is known to exhibit high sensitivity toward H(2). Such a solid solution was empowered by the addition of Nb, which—according to earlier studies on titania films—was expected to inhibit grain growth at high temperatures, to reduce the film resistance and to impact the sensor selectivity and sensitivity. Powders were synthesized through the sol–gel technique by keeping the Sn–Ti ratio constant at the optimal value for H(2) detection with different Nb concentrations (1.5–5 atom %). Such solid solutions were thermally treated at 650 and 850 °C. The sensor based on the solid solution calcined at 650 °C and with the lowest content of Nb exhibited an extremely high sensitivity toward H(2), paving the way for H(2) ppb detection. For comparison, the response to 50 ppm of H(2) was increased 6 times vs SnO(2) and twice that of (Sn,Ti)(x)O(2).