Characteristics of CuO doped WO₃-SnO₂Thick Film Gas Sensors

Abstract

CuO doped $WO_3-SnO_2$ thick film gas sensors were fabricated by screen printing method on alumina substrates and heat-treated at $350^{\circ}C$ in air. The effects of mixing ratio of $WO_3$ with $SnO_2$ on the structural and morphological properties of $WO_3-SnO_2$ were investigated X-ray diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscope. The structural properties of the $WO_3-SnO_2$:CuO thick film by XRD showed that the monoclinic of $WO_3$ and the tetragonal of $SnO_2$ phase were mixed. Nano CuO was coated on the $WO_3-SnO_2$ surface and then the surface of $WO_3$ was coated with $SnO_2$ particles with $1\sim1.5{\mu}m$ in diameters, as confirmed form the SEM image. The sensitivity of the $WO_3-SnO_2$:CuO sensor to 2000 ppm $CO_2$ gas and 50 ppm $H_2S$ gas for the various ratio of $WO_3$ and $SnO_2$ was investigated. The 4 wt% CuO doped $WO_3-SnO_2$(75:25) tkick films showed the highest sensitivity to $CO_2$ gas and $H_2S$ gas.