Chemiresistors with In2O3 Nanostructured Sensitive Films Used for Ozone Detection at Room Temperature

Abstract

Detection of greenhouse gases is essential because harmful gases in the air diffuse rapidly over large areas in a short period of time, causing air pollution that will induce climate change with catastrophic consequences over time. Among the materials with favorable morphologies for gas detection (nanofibers, nanorods, nanosheets), large specific surfaces, high sensitivity and low production costs, we chose nanostructured porous films of In2O3 obtained by the sol-gel method, deposited on alumina transducers, with gold (Au) interdigitated electrodes (IDE) and platinum (Pt) heating circuits. Sensitive films contained 10 deposited layers, involving intermediate and final thermal treatments to stabilize the sensitive film. The fabricated sensor was characterized using AFM, SEM, EDX and XRD. The film morphology is complex, containing fibrillar formations and some quasi-spherical conglomerates. The deposited sensitive films are rough, thus favoring gas adsorption. Ozone sensing tests were performed at different temperatures. The highest response of the ozone sensor was recorded at room temperature, considered to be the working temperature for this specific sensor.