Sensing Properties of Tin Acetylacetonate-Based Thin Films Doped with Platinum

Thin sensing films based on tin acetylacetonate (SnAcAc) with a platinum catalyst were prepared in situ by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) with a Nd:YAG laser. The morphology and roughness of both as-deposited and annealed layers were characterized. These layers were also deposited on alumina sensor substrates with interdigital Pt electrodes and then used for the detection of hydrogen, n-butanol, toluene, and water vapors in synthetic air. The temperature dependence of the response of the prepared sensors was measured in the range of 40-350 degrees C. It was proved that the selectivity to the above mentioned gases is easily tunable by adjusting the operating temperature of the sensor. The maximum response was achieved at 110 degrees C for hydrogen, 220 degrees C for n-butanol, 300 degrees C for toluene, and 340 degrees C for water vapor. The activation energy of surface reactions taking place during the detection process was also calculated.