Synthesis of Ferric Oxide Nanoparticles for Gas Sensors Using Screen Printed Thick Films

Nano-powders Ferric oxides (Fe2O3) were synthesized by precipitation method. Powders were then used to make thick films on glass substrate by using standard screen printing technique. These films dried and fired at 400 0C temperature for two hours in air atmosphere. The gas sensing performance was studied using static gas sensing system. The films were tested for various gases such as NH3, Ethyl Alcohol, LPG, H2S and Cl2. The nano Fe2O3 film showed maximum sensitivity to chlorine gas at room temperature at1000 ppm concentration at small response time and large recovery time. Morphological and structural properties of the films were studied using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDAX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques