Abstract
The effect of Cu coating on the sensing properties of nano $SnO_2:Cu$ based sensors for the $CH_4$, $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gas was studied. This work was focussed on investigating the change of sensitivity of nano $SnO_2:Cu$ based sensors for $CH_4$, $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gas by Cu coating. Nano sized $SnO_2$ powders were prepared by solution reduction method using stannous chloride($SnCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$), hydrazine($N_2H_2$) and NaOH and subsequent heat treatment. XRD patterns showed that nano $SnO_2$ powders with rutile structure were grown with (110), (101), (211) dominant peak. The particle size of nano $SnO_2:Cu$ powders at 8 wt% Cu was about 50 nm. $SnO_2$ particles were found to contain many pores, according to SEM analysis. The sensitivity of nano $SnO_2:Cu$ based sensors was measured for 5 ppm $CH_4$ gas and $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gas at room temperature by comparing the resistance in air with that in target gases. The sensitivity for both $CH_4$ and $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gases was improved by Cu coating on the nano $SnO_2$ surface. The response time and recovery time of the $SnO_2:Cu$ gas sensors for the $CH_4$ and $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gases were 18~20 seconds, and 13~15 seconds, respectively.
