Fe2O3 modified thick films of nanostructured SnO2 powder consisting of hollow microspheres synthesized from pyrolysis of ultrasonically atomized aerosol for LPG sensing

Nanostructured hollow spheres of SnO2 with fine nanoparticles were synthesized by ultrasonic atomization. Thick film gas sensors were fabricated by screen printing technique. Different surface modified films (Fe2O3 modified SnO2) were obtained by dipping them into an aqueous solution (0.01 M) of ferric chloride for different intervals of time followed by firing at 500 degrees C. The structural and microstructural studies of the samples were carried out using XRD, SEM, and TEM. The sensing performance of pure and modified films was studied by exposing various gases at different operating temperatures. One of the modified sample exhibited high response (1990) to 1000 ppm of LPG at 350 degrees C. Optimum amount of Fe2O3 dispersed evenly on the surface, adsorption and spillover of LPG on Fe2O3 misfits and high capacity of adsorption of oxygen on nanostructured hollow spheres may be the reasons of high response. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.