Title: Grain size dependence of tin oxide nanopaste on sintering temperature

Authors: Goran Miskovic; Goran Radosavljevic

Addresses: Department of Applied Electronic Materials, Institute of Sensor and Actuator Systems, Vienna University of Technology, Gusshausstraße 27-29, A-1040 Vienna, Austria ' Department of Applied Electronic Materials, Institute of Sensor and Actuator Systems, Vienna University of Technology, Gusshausstraße 27-29, A-1040 Vienna, Austria

Abstract: Grain size and porosity are two of the key parameters which are strongly affecting and dictating the sensitivity of tin oxide and gas sensors in general. Grain size and porosity are dependent on the firing temperature profile and in this study the emphasis is on investigation of grain size dependence on the sintering temperature. It is well known that with decreasing grain size, gas sensitive materials have larger selectivity, higher sensitivity, the sensor response increases steeply and they are more immune to poisoning. The core of the investigation is to observe how grain size of SnO₂ changes with an increase of sintering temperature and to determine its influence on material porosity. For the first interaction, custom-designed SnO₂ nanopaste has been deposited on sintered alumina (Al₂O₃) substrates using screen-printing technique. Specimens have been sintered at peak temperatures in the range of 800-1500°C. Afterwards they have been characterised with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS).

Keywords: tin oxide; grain size; porosity; SnO2 nanopaste; alumina; gas sensors; sintering temperature; sintered alumina; Al2O3; aluminium oxide; nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2017.082477

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2017 Vol.14 No.1/2/3/4/5/6, pp.276 - 283

Published online: 24 Feb 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article