Abstract
[ $SnO_2$ ]nano powders were prepared by solution reduction method using tin chloride($SnCl_2{\cdot}2H_2O$), hydrazine($N_2H_4$) and NaOH. The $SnO_2$ thick films for gas sensors were fabricated by screen printing method on alumina substrates and annealed at $300^{\circ}C$ in air, respectively. XRD patterns of the $SnO_2$ nano powders showed the tetragonal structure with (110) dominant orientation. The particle size of $SnO_2$ nano powders at the ratio of $SnCl_2:N_2H_4$+NaOH= 1:6 was about 60 nm. The sensing characteristics were investigated by measuring the electrical resistance of each sensor in a test box. Sensitivity of $SnO_2$ gas sensor to 5 ppm $CH_4$gas and 5 ppm $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gas was investigated for various $SnCl_2:N_2H_4$+NaOH proportion. The highest sensitivity to $CH_4$ gas and $CH_3CH_2CH_3$ gas of $SnO_2$ sensors was observed at the $SnCl_2:N_2H_4$+NaOH= 1:8 and $SnCl_2:N_2H_4$+NaOH= 1:6, respectively. Response and recovery times of $SnO_2$ gas sensors prepared by $SnCl_2:N_2H_4$+NaOH= 1:6 was about 40 s and 30 s, respectively.
