Enhancement of Gas Sensitivity of Composites of Carbon Derived from Rubber Tree and SnO2 to Detect Ethanol Vapor at Room Temperature

Year : 2025 | Volume : 12 | Issue : 02 | Page : 31 44
    By

    W.W.S.S.R. Fernando,

  • Chathuranga Rathnayake1,

  • P.G.D.C.K. Karunarathna,

  • P. Samarasekara,

  1. Research Assistant, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  2. Research Assistant, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
  3. Senior Lecturer, Department of Nano Science Technology, Faculty of Technology, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Kuliyapitiya, Sri Lanka
  4. Senior Professor, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Films of composites of activated carbon powder prepared from saw dust derived from core of rubber tree (Hevea Brasiliensis) and tin oxide (SnO2) were fabricated using the doctor blade method. Carbon powder was activated using phosphoric acid at 500°C for 45 minutes. The weight ratio carbon/SnO2 varied from 0 to 12% in steps of 2. The structural, optical and morphological properties of films were investigated using XRD patterns, UV-visible spectrums and SEM images, respectively. Only the peaks of SnO2 were found in all the XRD patterns, due to the amorphous nature of carbon. Crystalline size, strain and dislocation density of the samples were estimated using (211) peak in XRD patterns. The band gaps of the composite samples were less than that of pure SnO2. However, the band gap of the sample with 8% of carbon and 92% of SnO2 was higher than that of pure SnO2. The gas sensitivity, response time and recovery time of composites with various weight ratios of carbon powder and SnO2 were measured at 1000 ppm of ethanol at the room temperature. The highest gas sensitivity of 68.27% was found at 8% of carbon and 92% of SnO2 weight ratio. The gas sensitivity gradually increased up to 8% of carbon with the increase of carbon percentage, and then slightly decreased. Formation of a percolation network in the samples after adding carbon is attributed to the optimization of the gas sensitivity. In addition, the porous structure and higher effective surface area of carbon particles enhances the gas sensitivity of these composites. The response time varied in the range from 70 to 302 minutes. The recovery time varied from 2 to 9 minutes. However, the variations of response and recovery times are not systematic.

Keywords: Activated carbon, SnO₂, gas sensitivity, band gap, ethanol vapor

[This article belongs to Journal of Thin Films, Coating Science Technology & Application ]

How to cite this article:
W.W.S.S.R. Fernando, Chathuranga Rathnayake1, P.G.D.C.K. Karunarathna, P. Samarasekara. Enhancement of Gas Sensitivity of Composites of Carbon Derived from Rubber Tree and SnO2 to Detect Ethanol Vapor at Room Temperature. Journal of Thin Films, Coating Science Technology & Application. 2025; 12(02):31-44.
How to cite this URL:
W.W.S.S.R. Fernando, Chathuranga Rathnayake1, P.G.D.C.K. Karunarathna, P. Samarasekara. Enhancement of Gas Sensitivity of Composites of Carbon Derived from Rubber Tree and SnO2 to Detect Ethanol Vapor at Room Temperature. Journal of Thin Films, Coating Science Technology & Application. 2025; 12(02):31-44. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jotcsta/article=2025/view=216639


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Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 12
Issue 02
Received 01/06/2025
Accepted 05/06/2025
Published 20/06/2025
Publication Time 19 Days
120

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