https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2016-16324-y
Regular Article
Enhanced gas sensing correlated with structural and optical properties of Cs-loaded SnO2 nanofilms
1
PSG College of Arts and Science, 640014, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
2
Nirmala Public School, 686661, Muvattupuzha, Kerala, India
3
Nanoscience Research centre (NSRC), Nirmala College, 686661, Muvattupuzha, Kerala, India
* e-mail: nanoncm@gmail.com
Received:
20
April
2016
Accepted:
24
August
2016
Published online:
20
September
2016
The Cs-loaded SnO2 thin films were prepared by the spray pyrolysis technique and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, impedance spectroscopy and conductometric method. Investigations based on the structural, optical and electrical properties confirm an enhanced gas sensing potential of cesium-loaded tin oxide films. It is found that the tin oxide thin film doped with 4% Cs with a mean grain size of 20 nm at a deposition temperature of 350 ° C show a maximum sensor response of 97.5% for LPG consistently. It is also observed that the sensor response of Cs-doped SnO2 thin films depends on the dopant concentration and the deposition temperature of the film.
© Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2016