Effect of Microstructure on Gas Sensing

Abstract

Zinc oxide compact pellets and thin films by two different growth techniques, sol-gel spin coating and MOCVD are synthesized. Structural and micro structural characteristics of the synthesized samples are studied using X-ray diffraction and FESEM analyses respectively. Gas sensing characteristics of the samples are investigated on exposure of hydrogen gas at various operating temperatures. It is found that samples grown using MOCVD shows higher response% and lower response and recovery time. The under lying mechanisms for the above observations are analyzed. It is said that micro structure of the samples plays crucial role in enhancing the sensing characteristics.