Study of nanocomposite thick-film butanol vapor sensors

Abstract

Gas sensing characteristics of multi-walled carbon nanotubes coated with tin dioxide nanoparticles nanocomposite thick-film structures (MWCNTs/SnO₂) prepared using hydrothermal synthesis, sol–gel technique and their combined process were investigated. Gas response test measurements of all studied nanocomposite structures carried out in air/target gas mixture showed that the most and at one time selective response to butanol vapor exposure in comparison to other mainly toxic and harmful gases such as acetone, toluene, formaldehyde, dimethylformamide, and others is observed for samples obtained by hydrothermal synthesis with 1:4 and 1:200 weight ratios of the nanocomposite components, respectively. These sensors are characterized by relatively short response and recovery times about 12 and 100 s, respectively, as well as low operating temperatures in the range of 150–200°C.