Analysis of the conductance transient in thick-film tin oxide gas sensors

In this paper, we analyse the conductance transient of a Taguchi TGS-822 sensor under a step change in the vapour concentration. A diffusion-limited range in the conductance transient is observed. Adjustments between the theoretical calculations based on a non-linear diffusion-reaction model and the experimental results allow a constant, tau', to be estimated, which is independent of the final conductance value and depends, among other parameters, on the effective diffusion coefficient of vapours in the porous tin oxide sensor. From transient measurements of organic solvents (benzene and o-xylene) we have obtained tau' values that are independent of concentration and characteristic for each vapour. This new parameter can give useful information for gas/vapour recognition.