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CdO-TiO2 nanocomposite thin films for resistive hydrogen sensing

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Abstract

A resistive gas sensor for hydrogen (H2) was developed using CdO-TiO2 nanocomposite films deposited onto a glass substrate in a thickness of typically 300–450 nm by co-sputtering. X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the formation of a perovskite CdTiO3 phase. Field emission-scanning electron micrographs showed spherically shaped grains which decreased in size on increasing the TiO2 concentration, most probably due to difference in the size of the ions of Cd and Ti. The nanostructured films with lower concentration of TiO2 exhibited good response to H2 at an operating temperature of 275 °C and an operating voltage of 250 mV. The sensors give a 3 % relative resistance change on exposure to 500 ppm of H2, have a 45 s response time and a 90 s recovery time. The H2 sensor described here does not require expensive additives and thus may find both civilian and industrial applications.

When CdO-TiO2 films are exposed to H2 it will react with adsorbed atomic oxygen species available on the sensor surface. CdO-TiO2 films with lower concentration of TiO2 exhibited maximum response of 3 % towards 500 ppm of H2 at an operating temperature of 275 °C.

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Acknowledgments

One of the authors MS sincerely thanks DRDO (0903810-1229) for the financial support and the authors sincerely thank SASTRA University, Thanjavur and IGCAR, Kalpakkam for providing necessary experimental facilities. PD sincerely thanks SASTRA University for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Functional Nanomaterials & Devices Lab, ASK-1116 Centre for Nanotechnology & Advanced Biomaterials and School of Electrical & Electronics Engineering, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, 613 401, India

    Dhivya Ponnusamy & Sridharan Madanagurusamy

  2. Surface and Nanoscience Division, Materials Science Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, 603 102, India

    Arun K. Prasad

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  1. Dhivya Ponnusamy
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  2. Arun K. Prasad
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  3. Sridharan Madanagurusamy
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Correspondence to Sridharan Madanagurusamy.

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Ponnusamy, D., Prasad, A.K. & Madanagurusamy, S. CdO-TiO2 nanocomposite thin films for resistive hydrogen sensing. Microchim Acta 183, 311–317 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-015-1653-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-015-1653-y

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