Effect of variation of sintering temperature on the gas sensing characteristics of SnO_2:Cu (Cu=9 wt. percent) system

摘要

The effect of variation of sintering temperature (600-800 deg C/4 h) on the gas sensing characteristics of a SnO_2:Cu (Cu = 9 wt. percent) system (a high-performance temperature-selective composition) in the form of pellets is investigated systematically for the CO, H_2 and LPG gases at a concentration level of 1000 ppm. The XRD, SIEM and half-bridge techniques were employed to establish the structural, morphological and gas sensing characteristics of the materials, respectively. A very high value of sensitivity factor (SF) equal to 1400 is obtained for CO gas at an optimal operating temperature of 160 deg C for the pellets sintered at 750 deg C. The selectivity values of CO gas against H_2 and LPG (S_(CO)/S_(H_2) approx 14 and S_(CO)/S_(LPG) approx 280) at an optimum temperature of 160 deg C are also improved considerably. This material (SnO_2:Cu, Cu=9 wt. percent sintered at 750 deg C with an optimal temperature of 160 deg C) may prove to have tremendous potential for CO gas sensing applications.