Platinum decorated mesoporous titanium nitride for fuel-cell type methanol gas sensor

In this paper, a novel fuel cell-type methanol gas sensor based on platinized mesoporous titanium nitride is fabricated. Mesoporous TiN, synthesized from ammonolysis of Zn-containing oxide precursor, is utilized as a support for platinum for both anode and cathode. Its performance is compared to that of Vulcan XC-72R carbon blacks. Hot press method is used for the fabrication of the sensor device. The results for methanol gas detection at room temperature reveal that Pt/TiN sensor has enhanced sensitivity. The response current towards 50 ppm methanol reaches 9.68 μA, which is ∼20 times higher than that of Pt/C sensor (0.41 μA). The Pt/TiN sensor also exhibits excellent repeatability, selectivity and long-term stability. This work reveals the potential of titanium nitride as support materials for gas sensing technologies.