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Single-Atom Ni-Modified SnO2 for Ultrasensitive NO2 Gas Sensing through Enhanced Molecular Adsorption and Efficient
Yuting Yang1, Jiarui Zhu1, Yihong Zhong1
1State Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Interfacial Materials Science, Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
ACS Sensors
|June 29, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to create single-atom nickel sites on tin dioxide for ultrasensitive nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas detection. This breakthrough enhances sensor performance and selectivity for trace gas analysis.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Chemical Sensing
Background:
- Precisely controlling single-atom sites in metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) is crucial for ultrasensitive gas detection.
- The structure-dependent role of atomically dispersed sites in MOS gas sensors is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a defect-assisted strategy for constructing Ni-modified SnO2 with tunable Ni dispersion.
- To establish a direct correlation between Ni coordination structure and NO2 sensing behavior.
- To elucidate the atomic-level mechanisms behind enhanced gas sensing performance.
Main Methods:
- Defect-assisted synthesis of Ni-modified SnO2 (Ni/H-SnO2) using hydrogen treatment.
- Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) for structural characterization.
- Gas sensing measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.
Main Results:
- Atomically dispersed Ni sites stabilized by Ni-O-Sn coordination were successfully formed on H-SnO2.
- Single-atom-dominated Ni/H-SnO2 sensors showed an ultrahigh response (13,152) to 1 ppm NO2 at 175 °C.
- Achieved excellent selectivity, long-term stability, and a low detection limit (10 ppb) for NO2.
- NiO_x clusters resulted in inferior sensing performance compared to single-atom sites.
Conclusions:
- The single-atom Ni-O-Sn bonding structure is identified as the key active site for ultrasensitive NO2 detection.
- Synergistic effects of strong NO2 adsorption and efficient charge transfer at single Ni atoms drive superior sensing.
- Atomic-level bonding engineering offers a promising strategy for developing high-performance MOS-based gas sensors.
