• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.199-203
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• 2018

In this study, we develop a methane sensor module that can detect low concentrations below 5,000 ppm and measure up to the detection limit of 50 ppm with the NDIR method, with a long lifetime and high accuracy. Methane ($CH_4$) is one of a representative greenhouse gas, which is very explosive. Thus, it is important to quickly and accurately measure methane concentration in the air. To adjust the methane sensor for industrial field applications, a NDIR-based small sensor was implemented and characterized, where its volume was $4cm{\times}4cm{\times}2cm$ and its response time ($T_{90}$) was less than 30 sec. These results demonstrate that the proposed sensor is commercially available for low-concentration measurement, low volume, and fast response application, such as IoT sensor nodes and portable devices.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.163-166
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• 1998

The mechanism of methane sensing by Pd-SiC diode was investigated over the temperature range of 400~$600^{\circ}C$. The effects or methane gas reaction on the parameters such as barrier height, initial rate of methane gas reaction are investigated. The methane gas reaction kinetics on the device are also discussed. The physical and chemical mechanism responsible for methane detection are proposed. Analysis of steady-state reaction kinetics using I-V method confirmed that methane gas reaction processes are responsible for the barrier height change in the diode.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.106-109
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• 2012

A low power methane gas sensor with microheater was fabricated by silicon bulk micromachining technology. In order to heat up the sensing layer to operating temperature, a platinum (Pt) micro heater was embedded in the gas sensor. The line width and gap of the microheater was 20 ${\mu}m$ and 4.5 ${\mu}m$, respectively. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowhisker arrays were grown on a sensor from a ZnO seed layer using a hydrothermal method. A 200 ml aqueous solution of 0.1 mol zinc nitrate hexahydrate, 0.1 mol hexamethylenetetramine, and 0.02 mol polyethylenimine was used for growing ZnO nanowhiskers. Temperature distribution of the sensor was analyzed by infrared thermal camera. The optimum temperature for highest sensitivity was found to be $250^{\circ}C$ although relatively high (64%) sensitivity was obtained even at as low a temperature as $150^{\circ}C$. The power consumption was 72 mW at $250^{\circ}C$, and only 25 mW at $150^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.295-302
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• 2008

$TiO_2,\;ZrO_2$, and $SiO_2$ were added in the concentration of 1 - 3 wt.% to improve long-term stability for the $SnO2$ thick film gas sensor. Short-term sensor resistances up to 90 h were measured to investigate the stabilization time of initial resistance in air. Long-term resistance drifts in air and in gas to 5000 ppm methane for the sensors annealed at $750^{\circ}C$ for 1 h and continuously heated at an operating temperature of $400^{\circ}C$ were also measured up to 90 days at an interval of 1 day. The long-term drifts in methane sensitivity for the three metal oxide-doped $SnO2$ sensors are closely related to methane sensitivity level, catalytic activity, and long-term drift in sensor resistance in air. Those stabilities are mainly discussed in terms of oxidation state and catalytic activity.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.451-457
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• 2014

We developed a high-performance methane gas sensor based on a $SnO_2$ hollow hemisphere array structure of nano-thickness. The sensor structures were fabricated by sputter deposition of Sn metal over an array of polystyrene spheres distributed on a planar substrate, followed by an oxidation process to oxidize the Sn to $SnO_2$ while removing the polystyrene template cores. The surface morphology and structural properties were examined by scanning electron microscopy. An optimization of the structure for methane sensing was also carried out. The effects of oxidation temperature, film thickness, gold doping, and morphology were examined. An impressive response of ~220% was observed for a 200 ppm concentration of $CH_4$ gas at an operating temperature of $400^{\circ}C$ for a sample fabricated by 30 sec sputtering of Sn, and oxidation at $800^{\circ}C$ for 2 hr in air. This high response was enabled by the open structure of the hemisphere array thin films.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 1999

After $SnO_2$ fine powder by precipitation method, Ca as crystallization inhibitor and Pd as catalyst were added to $SnO_2$ raw material by various methods. Thick film device was fabricated on the alumina substrate by mixing ethylene glycol and such mixed powders. The sensing characteristics of the device for methane gas were investigated. The most excellent gas sensing property was shown by the thick film device fabricated by Method 3 in which Ca and Pd doped $SnO_2$ powder is prepared by mixing $SnO_2$ powder, 0.1 wt% Ca acetate and 1 wt% $PdCl_2$ in deionized water and by calcining the mixture, after $Sn(OH)_4$ is dried at $110^{\circ}C$ for 36h. The sensitivity of the sensor fabricated with $SnO_2$-0.1 wt%Ca acetate-1wt%$PdCl_2$ powder heat-treated at $700^{\circ}C$ for 1h was about 86% for 5,000 ppm methane in air at $350^{\circ}C$ of the operating temperature. Response time and recovery were also excellent.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.462-468
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• 2010

A low power gas sensor with microheater was fabricated by MEMS technology. In order to heat up the gas sensing material to a operating temperature, a platinum(Pt) micro heater was built on to the micromachined Si substrate. The width and gap of microheater were $20\;{\mu}m$ and $4.5\;{\mu}m$, respectively. ZnO nanowhisker arrays were fabricated on a sensor device by hydrothermal method. The sensor device was deposited with ZnO seeds using PLD systems. A 200 ml aqueous solution of 0.1 mol zinc nitrate hexahydrate, 0.1 mol hexamethylenetetramine, and 0.02 mol polyethylenimine was used for growthing ZnO nanowhiskers. The power consumption to heat up the gas sensor to a operating temperature was measured and temperature distribution of sensor was analyzed by a Infrared Thermal Camera. The optimum temperature for highest sensitivity was found to be $250^{\circ}C$ although relatively high(64 %) sensitivity was obtained even at as low as $150^{\circ}C$. The power consumption was 72 mW at $250^{\circ}C$ and was only 25 mW at $150^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.53-57
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• 2011

We developed a small methane detection system because methane gas is used in many areas and is dangerous. The developed system consisted of LD(Laser Diode) tuned a wavelength of $1.65\;{\mu}m$, two mirrors to collect a laser beam, photo detector. It could detect methane gas at a long range and its sensitivity was 1.98 V/$CH_4%$.

• Journal of information and communication convergence engineering
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.22-25
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• 2004

A highly sensitive ammonia gas sensor using thick-film technology has been fabricated and examined. The sensing material of the gas sensor is FeOx-$WO_{3}-SnO_{2}$ oxide semiconductor. The sensor exhibits resistance increase upon exposure to low concentration of ammonia gas. The resistance of the sensor is decreased, on the other hand, for exposure to reducing gases such as ethyl alcohol, methane, propane and carbon monoxide. A novel method for detecting ammonia gas quite selectively utilizing a sensor array consisting of an ammonia gas sensor and a compensation element has been proposed and developed. The compensation element is a Pt-doped $WO_{3}-SnO_{2}$gas sensor which shows opposite direction of resistance change in comparison with the ammonia gas sensor upon exposure to ammonia gas. Excellent selectivity has been achieved using the sensor array having two sensing elements.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 1996

Thick film type gas sensors with parallel Pt heaters were fabricated by screen printing process and investigated sensitivities for methane gas. The TR7905 was selected as Pt paste for heater by characterization the properties of TCRs and thick film microstructures. The average resistance of parallel Pt heaters was $1.8{\Omega}$, and the best TCR obtained was $3685\;ppm/^{\circ}C$. On the top of the Pt heaters, a sensing layer added with Pt and Pd as catalyst paste was screen printed and heat treated. The sensitivity of the sensor was 4.3mV/1000ppm for methane. The power consumption of the sensors was 2.12watts.