Room temperature liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sensor

• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2010.02.063
• Publication Date: 2010-03-11T09:57:36Z
• Authors: D.S. Dhawale; D.P. Dubal; A.M. More; T.P. Gujar; C.D. Lokhande
• Keywords: Thin films; 0103 physical sciences; LPG sensor; Selectivity; 600; Heterojunction; 02 engineering and technology; LPG sensor model; 540; 0210 nano-technology; Stability; 01 natural sciences

The p-polyaniline/n-ZnO thin film heterojunction sensor for room temperature LPG detection was fabricated by electrodepositing polyaniline on chemical bath deposited ZnO film. The heterojunction showed rectifying behavior indicating the formation of a diode with ideality factor 1.10. The formation of diffusion free interface of heterojunction was confirmed from cross-sectional FESEM. The heterojunction sensor has quick and high response towards LPG as compared to N2 and CO2 and exhibited maximum response of 81% upon exposure of 1040 ppm of LPG. The LPG sensing mechanism for heterojunction is modeled through change in height of barrier potential.