Gas sensing properties of WO3-based ceramics to ethanol vapors

Gas sensing of WO3 ceramics for ethanol alcohol vapor (C2H5OH) and amyl alcohol vapor (C5H11OH) was found. The increase of conductivity at the alcohol vapor was interpreted in the frame of grain boundary potential barriers model. We assumed that the sensitivity of the WO3 ceramics to alcohol vapor was essentially due to desorption of oxygen at the surface of the grains. The gas sensing and electrical properties of WO3 ceramics are compared.