Sensing characterization to NH3 of nanocrystalline Sb-doped SnO2 synthesized by a nonaqueous sol–gel route

Antimony-doped tin dioxide (ATO) nanoparticles with high crystallinity during solvothermal synthesis in alcohol were generated from the inorganic precursors (SnCl4 and Sb(OC2H5)3) and the cationic surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB). The structural and morphological characterizations of the products were performed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2-sorption isotherm and X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS). The resulting particles were highly crystalline oxide particles in the nanometer range (10–14 nm). The indirect-heating sensors using ATO nanoparticles as sensitive materials were fabricated on an alumina tube with Au electrodes and platinum wires. The sensing properties of these sensors based on ATO nanoparticles were investigated. Compared to the original undoped sensor, the results show that the ATO nanoparticles have about 2.5 times increase in response and good dynamic response to NH3 at low operating temperature (79 °C).