AbstractsEngineering

Development and characterisation of metal oxide gas sensors

by Enobong Effiong Bassey




Institution: AUT University
Department:
Year: 0
Keywords: Petroleum; Hydrocarbon; Gas; Sensor; Nanostructures; Metal Oxides; SnO2; ZnO; Ethanol; Methanol; Hydrogen; Design; Fabrication; Characterisation; Petroleum engineering; Electrical and electronics engineering; Chemical engineering; Solid-state engineering; Photocatalysis
Record ID: 1317968
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/10292/7994


Abstract

There is an increasing interest among researchers of environmental sensors to improve the functionality and portability of chemical sensor devices, while applying simple materials and innovative techniques. Nanotechnology, which is at the cross-road of science, technology and arts, has provided the platform for this multidisciplinary technological development. The research described in this thesis involves the design, fabrication and characterisation of chemical sensors for the analysis of trace volatile hydrocarbons. The objective of this study is the systematic investigation of the sensing-dependence of the composition of veritable materials used in the preparation of nanocomposites, characterisation of their nanostructures, and development of their sensing mechanism based on their surface-gas interaction behaviour. This research involved the preparation of five chemical sensors using 100:0, 75:25 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 molar ratios of tin dioxide and zinc oxide. These sensors were labelled as SnO2,