SnO2-Bi2O3 and SnO2-Sb2O3 gas sensors obtained through chemical routes

A. MONTENEGRO; M. PONCE; M. S. CASTRO; J. E. RODRÍGUEZ–PÁEZ

Toledo

Congreso; Electroceramics X; 2006

CSIC - Sociedad Española de Cerámica y Vidrio

Tin oxide, SnO2, is one of the most used material in the production of gas sensors. It is generally accepted that their efficiency is improved by adding palladium or other oxides as bismuth or antimony. Since the behavior of this device   depends strongly on its surface, it is of great interest to develop synthesis methods that allow to obtain nanoparticles of these compounds. In this work, SnO2-Bi2O3 and SnO2-Sb2O3 nanoparticles were obtained by using coprecipitation and polymeric precursor methods.  Powders were characterized through XRD, FTIR and DTA/TG. Thick films were made by painting onto alumina substrates on which electrodes has been deposited by sputtering. The electric behavior, under oxygen and carbon monoxide, of thick films was registered.  Results indicate that SnO2-Bi2O3 systems showed better characteristics than SnO2-Sb2O3. Also, powders obtained by polymeric precursor method showed a better performance for gases detection.