Thick film gas sensors based on nanosized semiconducting oxides.

Giuliano Martinelli^1*, Maria Cristina Carotta¹, Vincenzo Guidi¹, Cesare Malagł¹ and Enrico Traversa²

¹INFM - Dept. of Physics, Univ. of Ferrara, Via Paradiso 12, 44100 Ferrara, Italy

²Dept. of Chemical Science and Technology, Univ. of Rome "Tor Vergata",00133 Rome, Italy

 SnO₂, LaFeO₃, and SmFeO₃ thick films were prepared by screen-printing technology on alumina substrates with comb-type Au electrodes. An array of thick-film prototype sensors has been placed beside a conventional station for environmental monitoring. Field tests have been performed by measuring the change in conductivity of the thick films exposed to real atmosphere. Their electrical response has been compared with the results of the analytical instruments for environmental monitoring. The same trend was observed for both systems, with very promising results. This allows us to consider as feasible the use of these sensors for cheap, innovative stations for air quality control.

Keywords: thick film, semiconducting oxides, sensors.