Traditionally, sol–gel processing of metal oxides using organometallic precursors is expensive, nonaqueous, and complicated when it comes to two-or-more dissimilar metal oxides. Herein, we report a versatile epoxide-assisted non-organometallic, aqueous, and inexpensive synthesis route of developing Cu/SnO₂ xerogels and their use as efficient formaldehyde (FA) gas sensors. The route utilizes easy to handle salts as precursors (tin and copper chlorides, in the present case) and organic epoxide (propylene oxide) as a gelation agent, which led to highly porous web matrix of Cu/SnO₂. The obtained Cu/SnO₂ xerogels, with 0–2 mol% Cu doping, were analyzed using XRD, Fourier transform infrared, UV–Vis, FE-SEM, TEM/HRTEM, and EDAX. As-developed xerogels showed their versatility in physico-chemical as well as FA gas sensing properties. By proper Cu-doping level in SnO₂ matrix, the reduction in sensor operating temperature (325–275 °C) and enhancement in the gas response (S = 50–96%) are chronicled. The effects of gas sensing are represented by an epoxy-assisted Cu/SnO₂ sol–gel process and the subsequent morphological and structural properties.

传统上，使用有机金属前体对金属氧化物进行溶胶-凝胶处理非常昂贵，不含水，并且对于两种或更多种不同的金属氧化物而言，处理起来很复杂。在本文中，我们报告了开发Cu / SnO ₂干凝胶及其作为有效甲醛（FA）气体传感器的通用环氧辅助非有机金属，水性和廉价合成路线。该路线利用易于处理的盐作为前体（在当前情况下为锡和氯化铜）和有机环氧化物（环氧丙烷）作为胶凝剂，从而形成高度多孔的Cu / SnO ₂纤网基质。所得的Cu / SnO ₂使用XRD，傅立叶变换红外，UV-Vis，FE-SEM，TEM / HRTEM和EDAX分析了0-2％（摩尔）Cu掺杂的干凝胶。已开发的干凝胶在理化和FA气体感测特性方面显示出多功能性。通过适当地在SnO ₂基体中掺杂铜，可以预测传感器工作温度降低（325–275°C）和气体响应增强（S  = 50–96％）。气体感应的影响以环氧辅助的Cu / SnO ₂溶胶-凝胶工艺以及随后的形态和结构特性为代表。