• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 2008

Passive metal forms an interfacial diffuse layer on the surface of passive film by its reaction with $H^+$ or $OH^-$ ions in solution depending on solution pH. There is a critical pH, called pH point of iso-selectivity ($pH_{pis}$) at which the nature of the diffuse layer is changed from the anion-permeable at pH<$pH_{pis}$ to the cation-permeable at pH>$pH_{pis}$. The $pH_{pis}$ for a passivated Fe was determined by examining the effects of pH on the thickness of passive film and on the dissolution reaction occurring on the passive film under a gavanostatic reduction in borate-phosphate buffer solutions at various pH of 7~11. The steady-state thickness of passive film formed on Fe showed the maximum at pH 8.5~9, and further the nature of film dissolution reaction was changed from a reaction producing $Fe^{3+}$ ion at $pH\leq8.5$ to that producing $FeO_2{^-}$ at $pH\geq9$, suggesting that the $pH_{pis}$ of Fe is about pH 8.5~9. In addition, the passive film formed at pH 8.5~9, $pH_{pis}$, was found to be the most protective with the lowest defect density as confirmed by the Mott-Schottky analysis. Pitting potential was decreased with increasing $Cl^-$ concentration at $pH\leq8.5$ due probably to the formation of anion permeable diffuse layer, but it was almost constant at $pH\geq9$ irrespective of $Cl^-$ concentration due primarily to the formation of cation permeable diffuse layer on the film, confirming again that $pH_{pis}$ of Fe is 8.5~9.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2009

${Co_3}{O_4}$ and ${Co_3}{O_4}$-based thick films with additives such as ${Co_3}{O_4}-{Fe_2}{O_3}$(5 wt.%), ${Co_3}{O_4}-{SnO_2}$ (5 wt.%), ${Co_3}{O_4}-{WO_3}$(5 wt.%) and ${Co_3}{O_4}$-ZnO(5 wt.%) were fabricated by screen printing method on alumina substrates. Their structural properties were examined by XRD and SEM. The sensitivities to iso-${C_4}H_{10}$, $CH_4$, CO, $NH_3$ and NO gases were investigated with the thick films heat treated at $400^{\circ}C$, $500^{\circ}C$ and $600^{\circ}C$. From the gas sensing properties of the films, the films showed p-type semiconductor behaviors. ${Co_3}{O_4}-{SnO_2}$(5 wt.%) thick film heat treated at $600^{\circ}C$ showed higher sensitivity to i-${C_4}H_{10}$ and CO gases than other thick-films. ${Co_3}{O_4}-{SnO_2}$(5 wt.%) thick film heat treated at $600^{\circ}C$ showed the sensitivity of 170 % to 3000 ppm iso-${C_4}H_{10}$ gas and 100 % to 100 ppm CO gas at the working temperature of $250^{\circ}C$. The response time to i-${C_4}H_{10}$ and CO gases showed rise time of about 10 seconds and fall time of about $3{\sim}4$ minutes. The selectivity to i-${C_4}H_{10}$ and CO gases was enhanced in the ${Co_3}{O_4}-{SnO_2}$(5 wt.%) thick film.