Sensing characteristics of tin dioxide/gold sensor prepared by coprecipitation method

High selective and sensitive thick-film methane sensors were fabricated and their sensing characteristics for various hydrocarbon gases were investigated. SnO2/Au was prepared by coprecipitation method. SEM, TEM, BET and XRD analyses were carried out for investigation of surface morphology and crystalline structure. Pd-added SnO2/Au thick-film devices exhibited high sensitivity to methane gas at operating temperature of 400°C. The sensitivity of SnO2/Au+Pd thick-film devices to methane gas was higher than that of the other gases. The optimal adding amounts of Au and Pd were 1 and 3 wt.%, respectively.