An Au clusters related spill-over sensitization mechanism in SnO2-based gas sensors identified by operando HERFD-XAS, work function changes, DC resistance and catalytic conversion studies.

The role of Au additives in SnO(2)-based thick film gas sensors was investigated by a combination of operando investigation techniques, namely spectroscopic high energy resolved fluorescence detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy (HERFD-XAS) and simultaneous DC resistance and work function change measurements. The results have shown that the Au is present in the form of small metallic particles at the surface of the host metal oxide without changing its bulk or surface electronic properties. The sensitization effect of Au can therefore be attributed to the "spill-over effect", meaning that the Au particles enrich the surface of the active metal oxide with oxygen species which consequently react with reducing gases such as CO and H(2). This is in contrast to the effect of Pd and Pt promoters which were found to be distributed at an atomic level on the surface and in the bulk of the supporting sensing material and therefore have a tremendous effect on its bulk and surface electronic properties.