Thin film tin oxide-based propane gas sensors

In this work, we report on the elaboration of SnO(2) and SnO(2):Ag thin films (similar to 200 nm in thickness) obtained by heat-treatment in oxygen of Sn and Sn:Ag thin films deposited by vacuum evaporation on alumina substrates. A simple and very cheap procedure was used to dope the SnO(2) films with Ag. Preliminary results on the sensing properties of these films are presented. Films are able to detect selectively the presence of C(3)H(8) in the LP-gas domestic mixture. Doping with Ag allows reductions in the optimal operation temperature of the SnO(2) sensors by 100 degreesC. This a Very important result when detecting such a highly explosive gas. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.