Highly sensitive hydrogen sulphide sensors operable at room temperature

• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2005.09.013
• Publication Date: 2005-10-21T11:13:45Z
• Authors: Shashwati Sen; Vinit Bhandarkar; K.P. Muthe; M. Roy; S.K. Deshpande; R.C. Aiyer; S.K. Gupta; J.V. Yakhmi; V.C. Sahni
• Keywords: Hydrogen sulphide; Tellurium

Abstract Tellurium thin films have been investigated for use as hydrogen sulphide gas sensors. The films were prepared by thermal evaporation on alumina substrates at a temperature of 373 K and were found to be sensitive towards 0.1 ppm of H2S at room temperature. The response was reproducible and the films were stable for operation over 3 months. Detection mechanism of the sensors was investigated and it was found that hydrogen sulphide reduced the amount of adsorbed oxygen on the Te film surface leading to increase in resistance.