Thick-film hydrocarbon gas sensors

Abstract γ-Fe 2 O 3 thick-film hydrocarbon gas sensors have been fabricated and their characteristics investigated. The sensitivity of a γ-Fe 2 O 3 thick film without any other catalysts heat treated at 400 °C for 2 h is 70% in 1000 ppm C 4 H 10 ambient at an operating temperature of 300 °C. The addition of Pd(1 wt.%) to γ-Fe 2 O 3 enhances the sensitivity to butane gas. The sensitivity of γ-Fe 2 O 3 /SnCl 4 ·5H 2 O(0.5wt.%)/Pd(1wt.%) film heat treated at 400 °C for 2 h to 1000 ppm C 4 H 10 is 80% at an operating temperature of 300 °C.