Incorporation of metal nanoparticles in soda-lime glass sensors for enhancing selective sensing

Abstract

We investigated the gas sensing properties of bare and Pd-, Pt-, or Au-functionalized soda-lime glass gas sensors. Commercial grade soda-lime glass slides were functionalized with noble metal nanoparticles via UV light irradiation with different reduction times and using appropriate precursor solutions. The gas sensing results showed that the glass-based gas sensors used in this study have significant gas sensing capabilities. In addition, the selectivity toward a specific gas can be tuned by application of the appropriate noble metal. The sensing mechanism is based on promotion of surface reactions by metal functionalization, which reduces the polarization of the glass and increases the electrical currents through the sensor. We also discuss the mechanisms for selective gas sensing by metal nanoparticles. The results obtained show that soda-lime glass can be promising platform for resistance-based gas sensors.