Low temperature-operating NiO-CoO butane gas sensors

Low temperature-operating NiO-CoO butane gas sensors

$NiO,\;Cu_2O,\;Mn_2O_3$ and $Cr_2O_3$ as p-type semiconductors were added in CoO with 15 wt.% ethylene glycol binder and measured the butane gas sensing characteristics. The highest sensitivity is obtained for the NiO-CoO sensors. CoO-20 at.% NiO sensor with 15 wt.% ethylene glycol binder sintered at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 24 h exhibits high sensitivity of 90 % to 5000 ppm butane gas at the sensor temperature of $250^{\circ}C$, compared to low sensitivities at the low operating temperature for commercial sensors. Response and recovery times are, respectively, within few seconds and 1min in the static flow system, indicating rapid adsorption and desorption of butane gas on sensor surface even at this low temperature.