Surface ruthenated tin oxide thin-film as a hydrocarbon sensor

A thin-film sensor based on the surface ruthenated tin oxide capable of goo d sensitivity and high selectivity towards hydrocarbons is demonstrated. Th e misfits created at the grain boundaries of tin oxide can affect the adsor bate-substrate interaction leading to unusually high selectivity. The surfa ce ruthenated tin oxide film deposited on the commercially available glass shows a sensitivity of 45 in comparison to 3 of pure tin oxide film at oper ating temperature between 225-3500 degreesC. A systematic study of the morp hology. surface coverage and oxidation state of Ru using different techniqu es, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals the rea son for the enhanced sensitivity of the surface functionalised. tin oxide f ilm. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.