A. Cirera et al., Microwave processing for the low cost, mass production of undoped and in situ catalytic doped nanosized SnO2 gas sensor powders, SENS ACTU-B, 64(1-3), 2000, pp. 65-69
Nanosized tin oxide powders were obtained for application in thick film gas
sensor technology. This requires an innovative technique, involving the us
e of microwave energy with a wavelength of 2.45 GHz, which produces doped o
r undoped powder precursors in just a few minutes. Further stabilisation tr
eatments - conventional heating, OH-stimulated microwaves and combined trea
tments - were also considered. Reproducibility, low cost and suitability fo
r mass production demonstrate the industrial and scientific feasibility of
this new procedure. Material structural characterisation and electrical pro
perties after gas exposure of improved sensors of Pt and Pd in situ doped,
and undoped SnO2 are introduced, showing the suitability of the material. (
C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.