Gas sensing properties of mixed /spl alpha/ Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/-SnO/sub 2/ nanoparticles prepared under hydrothermal conditions

This paper reports an investigation of the gas-sensitive properties of thick film sensors based on mixed nanosized oxides (1-x)/spl alpha/Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/-xSnO/sub 2/ (x = 0.1-1.0), towards different reducing gases (CH/sub 4/, CO, H/sub 2/O). The samples were tested in the range of temperatures (200-400/spl deg/C). The mixed oxides proved a real sensitivity to CH/sub 4/ being practically insensitive to detection limit of CO. The maximum response to CH/sub 4/ takes place at 330/spl deg/, where the water interference was also studied.