Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
The chemical reactions occurring at the surface of tin oxide nanoparticles under NOx adsorption have been investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and correlated with the variations of the electrical conductivity of tin oxide. These surface reactions have been found dependent on the particle size and on the presence of oxygen. The strong coordination of the newly formed chemical species onto the nanoparticle surface may result in a poor reversibility of the sensor response.