Berlin 2012 – scientific programme
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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik
O 54: Nanostructures at surfaces II
O 54.10: Talk
Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 19:00–19:15, MA 042
Study of collective efforts of catalytic activity and photo-activation phenomenon for an enhanced response of SnO2 based thin film sensors towards methane gas — •Divya Haridas1 and Vinay Gupta2 — 1Department of Physics, Keshav Mahavidyalaya, University of Delhi, Pitampura, delhi, India-110034 — 2Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Delhi, Delhi, India110007
Detection of methane is always a great cause of concern for safety productions in mines and chemical factories. The present study investigates the twin effect of UV illumination and catalytic activity on methane sensing characteristics of SnO2 sensors. The sensitivity and selectivity of pure SnO2 thin film sensors are improved by loading it with different catalyst (Pd, Pt, Ni, Au) clusters (8 nm). Palladium clusters catalyst showed an enhanced sensor response (97.6%) towards 200 ppm of methane detection at an operating temperature of 220oC. Further, optimizing the thickness of Pd clusters leads to an enhanced sensing response of 97% to 99% over a wider temperature range (160oC to 240oC) for 10 nm thick Pd clusters. The room temperature response of the same sensor increases to 99.7% under UV illumination which is attributed to the efficient catalytic dissociation of methane molecules besides the spillover process at room temperature. Results indicate the possibility of utilizing the sensor structure with novel dispersal of Pd catalyst clusters on SnO2 film surface for efficient detection of methane at room temperature under the illumination of UV radiations.