Manufacturing and investigations of i-butane sensor made of SnO2/multiwall-carbon-nanotube nanocomposite

Nanocomposite SnO2/multiwall-carbon-nanotubes were prepared by the sol-gel method. The morphology of prepared nanocomposite powder was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Energy-dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction analyses were carried out, the element structure of a nanocomposite has been determined. Ceramic and thick film gas sensors made of the nanocomposite multiwall-carbon-nanotube/SnO2/Pd structure were manufactured and investigated. After the sensitization in the Ru(OH)Cl-3 water solution, these sensors have rather high response to isobutane already at 120 degrees C. The response of prepared sensors was measured at different gas concentrations and at different temperatures of the work body. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.