G. Williams et Gsv. Coles, GAS-SENSING PROPERTIES OF NANOCRYSTALLINE METAL-OXIDE POWDERS PRODUCED BY A LASER EVAPORATION TECHNIQUE, Journal of materials chemistry (Print), 8(7), 1998, pp. 1657-1664
Nanosized powders of Al2O3, ZrO2 and SnO2 have been produced by laser
ablation of ceramic samples followed by condensation in a controlled g
aseous atmosphere. X-Ray powder diffraction, transmission and scanning
electron microscopy have been used to investigate the morphology and
structure of the materials. A study of the gas sensing characteristics
of thick films prepared from these materials revealed that zirconia b
ased sensors respond to H-2 at a temperature of 100 degrees C, while t
hick films of alumina display marked changes in both resistance and ca
pacitance as a function of relative humidity at room temperature. Nano
crystalline SnO2 sensors respond markedly to mixtures of H-2, CO and C
H4 in the 100-600 degrees C temperature range and display sensitivity
values which are higher than those obtained using SnO2 powder samples
prepared via a conventional wet chemistry route. Optimisation experime
nts showed that sensor characteristics were influenced both by pre-tre
atment temperature and him thickness.