Publication
Title
In situ infrared and electrical characterization of tin dioxide gas sensors in nitrogen/oxygen mixtures at temperatures up to 720 K
Author
Abstract
FT-IR spectroscopy and impedance measurements of tin dioxide sensor materials at working temperatures up to 450 °C in atmospheres with varying O2/N2 ratio are used as an in situ probe to study the interactions at the surface of the semiconducting oxide. Every diminution in the oxygen content above the sample induces a broad IR absorption band (X-band) between 2300700 cm−1 with a few small peaks in the 1400850 cm−1 region of the spectrum superimposed on it. The X-band results from the enchanced electron concentration in the bulk of the tin dioxide domain. The fine structure is due to the absorption of several kinds of surface oxygen species associated vibration modes. The porous tin dioxide consists of domains were the outward shell is depleted of electrons by the formation of adsorbed O− species on oxygen surface sites, SO(O− species. In our proposed model for the impedance data this gives rise to a parallel RpCp circuit for the domain boundary characteristics and to an Rs parameter for the intradomain resistance. The evolution of these IR and impedance spectroscopic effects with temperature and oxygen content is used to set up, to confirm and refine a physicochemical operation model of tin dioxide gas sensor. This model consists of a sensitizing reaction sequence in the presence of oxygen and a gas-detection reaction sequence when a reducing gas is present. Based on this model, the principal disadvantages of this type of gas sensor become clear. Every factor that influences the concentration of SO(O−) species, causes a conductance modification. If we can control and direct the nature, the number and the arrangement of the tin dioxide domains, a directed development and improvement of the sensor characteristics is possible.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Sensors and actuators : B : chemical. - Lausanne
Publication
Lausanne : 1994
ISSN
0925-4005
DOI
10.1016/0925-4005(93)01048-9
Volume/pages
19 (1994) , p. 478-482
ISI
A1994NN90000040
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Publication type
Subject
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 04.05.2010
Last edited 04.03.2024
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