Gas-sensing properties of tin oxide-based volatile organic compound sensors for total volatile organic compound gases

Abstract

This study is an investigation on the total volatile organic compound (T-VOC) gassensing properties of platinum-added tin oxide (Pt/SnO2) thick films. We have prepared a T-VOC test gas on the basis of analytical data of the actual indoor air condition of Japanese residences. The T-VOC test gas has 16 components, which belong to 6 groups, namely, aldehydes, aliphatic compounds, aromatic compounds, terpenes, esters, and alcohols. Pt/SnO 2 possesses a good potential for T-VOC gas detection. We discuss the contribution ratios of each group in the T-VOC test gas for the sensor response of the Pt/SnO2 thick films. The responses of the Pt/SnO2 thick film are not dominated by parts of the groups, but depend on all the groups in the T-VOC test gas.