THE GAS-SENSING CHARACTERISTICS OF BISMUTH CHROMATE MATERIAL

A thick film gas sensor made from porous bismuthchromate is presented. The sensor operates by the bulk conductivity of bismuth chromate semiconductor catalyst. When a reducing gas is present, the catalyst is reduced and produces highly mobile oxygen vacancies, which have a direct effect on the carrier density throughout the sample. In the air, on the other hand, this process is completely reversible. Therefore the sensor response to a reducing gas is indicated by an increase in the conductance of the sensor. It is found that only exposed to alcohol vapour the sensor shows a high response, while exposure of the sensor to ketone vapour produces comparatively little response and to other vapour like alkenes, alkanes, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide basically no response. Other advantages include long term stability, lack of sensitivity to water vapour, a fast response, and a lower operating temperature than the gas sensors now in use.