Al-Zno Paper Joam
Al-Zno Paper Joam
Al-Zno Paper Joam
Thick films of pure and Al doped ZnO with various concentrations (1 wt. %, 3 wt. %, 5 wt. %, 7 wt. % and 10 wt. %) of Al
were prepared on alumina substrates using a screen printing technique. These films were fired at a temperature of 700C
for two hours in an air atmosphere. Morphological, compositional and structural properties of the samples were studied
using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDAX) and X-ray diffraction techniques
respectively. The gas sensing studies were carried out in a static gas sensing system under normal laboratory conditions.
The surface resistance of thick films changes when exposed to CO2 gas. The Al doped films show significant sensitivity to
o
CO2 gas than pure ZnO film. 10 wt. % Al-doped ZnO films were found to be more sensitive to CO2 gas exposed at 250 C
than other doping concentrations with fast response and comparatively slow recovery time.
(Received August 17, 2011; accepted October 20, 2011)
Keywords: ZnO, Al, Thick films, Screen printing, CO2
1. Introduction
Nowadays, there is a great interest in implementing
sensing devices in order to improve environmental and
safety control of gases. There is also great needing of this
kind of sensors to carry out the optimization of
combustion reactions in the emerging transport industry
and in domestic & industrial applications. Solid state gas
sensors
show
fast
sensing
response,
simple
implementation and low prices [1, 2, 3]. Transition metal
oxides such as TiO2, SnO2, WO3, ZnO, In2O3 etc. appear
to be best candidates for semiconductor gas sensors [1, 2,
4-9]. The sensitivity of these devices is based on the
dependence of conductivity of metal oxides on the
surrounding atmosphere. Nevertheless, full development
of such devices require an improvement of their
characteristics by the introduction of metal additives
[10].These additives enhance the material sensitivity &
selectivity & decrease the response time & the operating
temperature of the sensing layer [11,12]. Another
important property is that the presence of metallic
additives can also modify the growth kinetic. The amount
and distribution of the metal is the most important
parameter to be controlled in order to obtain the highest
sensitivity [13].
ZnO is an n-type semiconducting oxide of the group II
metal zinc, and belongs to the P63mc space group [14].
The undoped ZnO has high n-type conductivity due to
defects such as oxygen vacancies and Zn interstitials,
which form donor levels [15]. ZnO has high transparency
in the visible and near-ultraviolet spectral regions, wide
conductivity range and conductivity changes under
photoreduction/oxidation condition [16]. Accordingly this
binary compound has wide applications in chemical
sensors, heterojunction solar cells, electrophotography,
surface acoustic wave devices, conductive transparent
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D=
2.1 Materials
AR grade ZnO was used as a functional material. AR
grade Al powder was used as a dopant. Glass frit
(70 wt. % PbO, 18 wt. % Al2O3, 9wt. % SiO2 and 3wt. %
B2O3) was used as a permanent binder and ethyl cellulose
(EC) was as local binder. Butyl carbitol acetate (BCA) was
the vehicle used to prepare the paste of ZnO: Al material.
2.2 Screen printing process
The ZnO: Al pastes used in screen printing were
prepared by maintaining the inorganic to organic materials
ratio of 70:30. Inorganic part consists of a functional
material (ZnO), dopant (Al) and glass frit. Organic parts
consist of 8% ethyl cellulose (EC) and 92% butyl carbitol
acetate (BCA). The Analar (AR) grade ZnO with x wt. %
Al (x = 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10%) and 5 wt. % of glass frit were
mixed thoroughly in an acetone medium with mortar and
pestle. A solution of EC and BCA in the ratio 8:92 was
made, which was added drop by drop to achieve the
thixotropic properties of the paste. ZnO thick films were
prepared on alumina substrates using a standard screenprinting technique. A nylon screen (40s, mesh no.355)
was used for screen-printing. The required mask (2 x 1.25
cm) was developed on the screen using a standard
photolithography process. The paste was printed on clean
alumina substrates (5 x 2 cm) with the help of a mask.
The pattern was allowed to settle for 15 to 20 minutes
in air. The films were dried under infrared radiation for 45
minutes to remove the organic vehicle and then fired at a
temperature of 700oC for 2 h ( which includes the time
required to achieve the peak firing temperature , constant
firing for 30 minutes at the peak temperature and then to
attain the room temperature) in a muffle furnace. During
the firing process glass frit melted and the functional
material and dopant were sintered. The function of glass
frit is to bind the grains of functional and dopant materials
together and also to adhere the film firmly to the substrate
surface.
2.3 Characterization
The structural properties of ZnO: Al films were
investigated using X-ray diffraction analysis from 20-800
[Rigaku diffractometer (Miniflex Model, Rigaku, Japan)
with CuK, =0.1542 nm radiation] with a 0.1o/step (2) at
the rate of 2 s/step. A scanning electron microscopy
(SEM- JOEL JED-2300) was employed to characterize the
surface morphology. The composition of ZnO: Al thick
film samples were analyzed by an energy dispersive X-
0.9
cos
(1)
SW =
6
d
(2)
Sensitivity ( S ) =
Ra R g
Ra
100
(3)
S other gas
% Selectivity =
S t arg et gas
100%
(4)
Element
(mass
%)
Al
1wt.
%
21.38
3wt.
%
22.14
5wt.
%
21.12
7wt.
%
20.66
10wt.
%
20.43
Zn
77.97
75.15
74.17
73.42
72.44
Al
0.65
2.71
4.71
5.92
7.13
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wt. % of Al
Pure ZnO
1
3
5
7
10
Particle size in
nm
Specific Surface
Area in m2/g
381
383
2.75
2.77
385
301
263
233
2.79
3.61
4.17
4.79
1335
1336
(5)
4. Conclusions
From the results obtained, following conclusions can
be made for the sensing performance of Al doped ZnO
thick films,
It has become possible to make thick film gas sensors
using screen printing method.
Pure ZnO thick films showed low response to CO2.
10wt. % Al doped ZnO thick films showed highest
response to CO2 at 2500C.
The sensitivity increases in proportion to the test gas
concentration upto 500ppm and then increase is slow.
The sensor has good selectivity to CO2 against LPG,
NH3, H2S, Ethanol and NO2 at 2500C.
The sensor showed very rapid response and slower
recovery to CO2.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank management authorities of M.G.
Vidyamandir Malegaon camp Dist:-Nasik, The Principal,
M.S.G. College, Malegaon and the Principal, L.V.H.
College, Nashik for providing all the required
infrastructural facilities for doing this work.
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*
Corresponding author: aruptl@gmail.com
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