Tin dioxide gas sensors: use of the seebeck effect

Abstract This paper describes a novel type of gas sensor, which relies on the thermovoltage generated when one region of a porous semiconductor is heated by the reaction of a combustible gas with oxygen. One of the main attractions of this type of sensor is that the power requirements are minimal. Use is made of a voltage measurement, which distinguishes the device from other semiconductor gas detectors that depend upon the measurement of resistance.