Surface science studies of gas sensing materials:: SnO2

This review is an attempt to give an overview on how surface science studies can contribute to a fundamental understanding of metal oxide gas sensors. In here tin dioxide is used as a model system for metal oxide gas sensor materials and we review surface science studies of single crystal SnO2. The composition, structure, electronic and chemical properties of the ( 110) and ( 101) surfaces is described. The influence of compositional changes as a function of the oxygen chemical potential on the electronic surface structure and the chemical properties is emphasized on the example of the ( 101) surface. The surface chemical properties are discussed on the example of water adsorption. It is shown the chemical and gas sensing properties depend strongly on the surface composition.