Utilization of Active Carbon Black With SnO₂/MoS₂ Nanocomposites for the Efficient Detection of NO₂ Molecules

An active carbon black (CB)/SnO2/MoS2 nanocomposite is successfully synthesized using the hydrothermal route to examine the nitrogen oxide (NO2) sensing performance. The ternary heterostructure interface of CB/SnO2/MoS2 increases the effective adsorption sites over the surface for the adsorption of NO2 gas molecules, enhancing surface reactivity toward gas molecules. The developed sensor exhibits a higher sensitivity and selectivity toward NO2. Herein, the ternary heterostructure interface sensor showed a maximum sensing response (Delta R/R% similar to 46%) for 100-parts per million (ppm) exposure, which is higher than bare MoS2 and binary heterojunction of SnO2/MoS2. The gas-sensing mechanism is dedicated to the p-n heterojunctions and the Schottky barriers between interfaces, which have been justified by the electrical measurements. This work revealed active CB as an effective material for enhanced gas adsorption active sites and generated heterojunction interfaces between SnO2/MoS2, resulting in enhanced gas-sensing performance of the sensors.