SnO₂:Agn thin films prepared by SOL-GEL applied as propane gas sensors

Películas delgadas SnO₂:Agn preparadas por SOL-GEL aplicadas como sensores de gas propano

S. Tirado Guerra*

Escuela Superior de Física y Matemáticas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, U.P. "A.L.M.", San Pedro Zacatenco, C.P. 07738, México, D. F., México. * Corresponding author. E-mail: tirado@esfm.ipn.mx Tel.: +55 57296000 Ext.: 55424 Fax.: +55 57296000 Ext.: 55015.

Abstract

SnO₂ thin films were fabricated by the sol-gel process and repeated immersion technique and deposited on soda-lime substrates. Tin chloride was used as precursor of tin, a 0.2 M solution in 2-methoxyethanol as a solvent and the monoethanolamine as a stabilizer was prepared. From silver nitrate a solution in ethanol was prepared and superficially incorporated onto SnO₂ films, thus obtaining SnO₂:Agn, where n= 0, 1, 3, 5 and 10 times impregnated with silver solution. A series of samples of approximately 150 nm thickness were prepared and were studied. Several layers of Ag were applied superficially on SnO₂ films. The thin films thus obtained are characterized by their structure, XRD, morphology by SEM and chemical composition by EDS, grain shape and size, porosity and surface roughness by AFM, and their electrical and optical (UV-Vis). Properties of SnO₂:Agn samples to propane gas detection in the range of 0-500 ppm gas concentration were tested operating at temperatures of 23, 100, 200 and 300 °C. The results of a selection of these sensors are presented in this paper.

Keywords: thin films, tin dioxide, sol-gel, gas sensors, propane.

Resumen

Películas delgadas de SnO₂ fueron crecidas sobre sustratos de vidrio sodo-cálcico empleando la técnica de sol-gel y el procedimiento de inmersión repetida. De cloruro de estaño se preparó una solución a 0.2 M en 2-metoxietanol y la monoetanolamina como estabilizador. La serie de películas preparadas SnO₂ resultaron de un espesor de 150 nm aproximadamente. Una vez preparadas dichas películas se modificaron superficialmente depositando nanopartículas de plata, a partir de una solución a baja concentración de nitrato de plata en etanol, empleando la técnica de depósito mencionada anteriormente, obteniendo así la serie SnO₂:Agn, con n= 0, 1, 3, 5 y 10, que indica el número de veces que fueron impregnadas con la solución de plata. Ambas series de películas se caracterizaron en su estructura por DRX, morfología por MEB y composición química por EDS, la forma y el tamaño de grano, así como la porosidad y rugosidad por MFA, sus propiedades eléctricas por cuatro y dos puntas, y las ópticas por UV-Vis. Para la serie de películas SnO₂:Agn se determinaron sus propiedades como sensores del gas propano en el rango de concentración de 0-500 ppm y operando a temperaturas de 23, 100, 200 y 300 °C. Los resultados de una selección de sensores se presentan en este trabajo.

Palabras clave: películas delgadas, dióxido de estaño, sol-gel, sensores de gases, propano.

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Acknowledgement

Author thanks to the SIP-IPN: 20141245 Proyect, to F.J. Camacho and N. Tirado for technical assistance.

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