LAUSR

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is one of the air pollutant mainly coming from industrial petrochemical fuel combustion and coal burning. Monitoring the concentration of SO2 is necessary to reduce harmful emissions. A novel amperometric sensor based on the Pd modified carbon nanofiber (Pd-CNF) electrode for SO2 determination has been developed. The Pd-CNF electrode was fabricated by the combination of electrospinning and chemical reduction reaction processes. The morphology and structure of the Pd-CNF electrode were characterized using scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction microscopy, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry and amperometric methods were employed to evaluate the electrocatalytic activities of the electrode towards SO2 oxidation. The Pd-CNF electrode has a linear relationship between response current and SO2 concentration in the detection range from 60 to 600 ppm with a detection limit less than 10 ppm. The high sensitivity of 4.75 μAcm−2 ppm−1 with fast response and recovery times can be obtained. The developed sensor also exhibits good selectivity towards SO2 over carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and oxygen.