https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2017-11581-x
Regular Article
High-performance ethanol gas sensor using TiO2 nanostructures
1
Dept. of Physics, Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri, 574 199, Karnataka, India
2
MSRL, Dept. of Physics, St. Thomas College, Pala, 686 574, Kerala, India
3
Dept. of Optoelectronics, University of Kerala, Trivandrum, 695 581, Kerala, India
4
Nanoscience Research Centre (NSRC), Dept. of Physics, Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha, 686661, Kerala, India
* e-mail: nanoncm@gmail.com
Received:
18
March
2017
Accepted:
5
June
2017
Published online:
13
July
2017
TiO2 nanostructures were synthesized by simple chemical routes. As-synthesized nanostructures were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area diffraction patterns. In the present work, the sensing element was fabricated as thin pellets of TiO2 nanoparticles without using any sensitizers coating. A novel approach of adopting gas sensing measurements of ethanol vapours at a low pressure condition inside a vacuum system has been achieved. All the samples show high sensor response towards ethanol vapour detection at relatively low operating temperatures. Thus, a low-cost industrial production of efficient ethanol gas sensor with good response and recovery time is possible with the synthesized TiO2 nanostructures.
© Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, 2017