A planar catalytic combustion sensor using nano-crystalline F-doped SnO2 as a supporting material for hydrogen detection

A planar catalytic combustion gas sensor based on Pd/Pt catalyst supported on F-doped SnO2 nano-crystalline materials has been designed and fabricated for hydrogen detection. The sensor consists of platinum heaters on an alumina plate coated with a catalytic layer and compensating layer. This sensor exhibited better performance than that of the sensors employing sensing material of Pd/Pt catalyst on gamma-Al2O3, and of Pd/Pt catalyst on nano-crystalline SnO2. The detection limit of the sensor at 370 degrees C is in the concentration range of 0.5-5% (v/v), with an excellent linearity of signal voltage to the hydrogen gas concentration.