Screen print fabricated CuO modified CdSnO ₃ sensor material: synthesis, characterization and NO ₂ gas sensing properties

In the present work we report the synthesis of CdSnO3 nanoparticle by coprecipitation method under PH = 9 and the material was calcinated at 800 °C for four hours, which effectively enhances the NO2 gas sensing performance at a relatively low operating temperature of 200 °C. XRD pattern confirmed the formation of rhombohedral perovskite structure of CdSnO3 nanoparticles calcinated at 800 °C. In this work, screen printing method is used to fabricate thick films of synthesized CdSnO3 powder that are fired at 500 °C for 30 minutes. The surface of film modified by using the dipping technique, and then fired. Surface morphology and the elemental composition of pure nanocrystalline CdSnO3 and CuO modified CdSnO3 were determined from FESEM and EDAX respectively. The vibrational frequencies, stretching such as symmetric, asymmetric, and metal oxide bending modes linkage were determined using FT-IR. The maximum gas sensing responses to 100 ppm of NO2 gas for pure CdSnO3 thick film and CuO modified CdSnO3 (3 min) thick film sensors at an operating temperature 200 °C was achieved. Pure CdSnO3 thick film and CuO modified CdSnO3 (3 min) thick film is a potential candidate for sensing of NO2 in an environment. The prominent NO2 gas sensing response is observed due to porous structure and nanocrystalline properties of CdSnO3.