CdS nanodroplets over silica microballs for efficient room-temperature LPG detection

An efficient room-temperature sensor for liquified petroleum gas (LPG) is demonstrated by employing CdS:SiO(2) nanocomposite thin films (CdS:SiO(2) NCTFs) for the first time. CdS:SiO(2) NCTFs exhibiting the morphology of CdS nanodroplets on micron-sized spherical balls of SiO(2) were deposited using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method, followed by thermal annealing. The targets of chemically synthesized CdS nanoparticles and commercially procured SiO(2) were used to deposit CdS:SiO(2) NCTFs by swapping them at a frequency ratio of 2 : 8 laser pulses per second, which was selected to ensure nearly the same ratio of CdS to SiO(2) in NCTFs and was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Sensor fabrication was carried out on bare CdS thin films and as-grown and annealed CdS:SiO(2) NCTFs using an Ag paste over Pt interdigitated electrodes to measure the resistance of the films in air and in the presence of reducing gases, viz., LPG, H(2), H(2)S, NO(2) and CO(2). The present sensor showed the highest response for LPG and the observed value was ∼71% for 1000 ppm at RT with the response time and recovery time of 91 s and 140 s, respectively. The response of the sensor was sustainable up to 75 °C and then decreased, which suggested its promising usage for low-temperature regions as well. A low detection limit of 20 ppm at RT for LPG was determined; however, a significant response was observed only at 50 ppm. The sensor retained ∼96% of its initial response even after 8 weeks and that too at 100 °C. The present LPG sensor is highly promising due to its high sensitivity, low detection limit, low response and recovery times, good reproducibility, RT operation and simple fabrication technique.