Gas sensing properties of lead doped tin oxide thick films

The present investigation deals with the fabrication of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) sensor materials based on semiconducting oxide SnO2. The gas sensor materials have been prepared by conventional solid-state route. The effect of Pb incorporation, operating temperature, morphology, and sensitivity is discussed using the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), along with sensing performance. Out of various sensor compositions, Ph doped SnO2 sintered at 1000 degrees C for 2 h has shown high sensitivity towards LPG at an operating temperature of 150 degrees C. Different characterization techniques have been employed, such as surface area analyzer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), to study the formation of SnO2, surface area and crystallite size, respectively. The results suggested the possibility of utilizing the sensor element for the detection of LPG. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.