Abstract
$SnO_2:CNT$ thick films for gas sensors were fabricated by screen printing method on alumina substrates and were annealed at $300^{\circ}C$ in air. The nano $SnO_2$ powders were prepared by solution reduction method using tin chloride ($SnCl_2.2H_2O$), hydrazine ($N_2H_4$) and NaOH. Nano $SnO_2:CNT$ sensing materials were prepared by ball-milling for 24h. The weight range of CNT addition on the $SnO_2$ surface was from 0 to 10 %. The structural and morphological properties of these sensing material were investigated using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscope. The structural properties of the $SnO_2:CNT$ sensing materials showed a tetragonal phase with (110), (101), and (211) dominant orientations. No XRD peaks corresponding to CNT were observed in the $SnO_2:CNT$ powders. The particle size of the $SnO_2:CNT$ sensing materials was about 5~10 nm. The sensing characteristics of the $SnO_2:CNT$ thick films for 5 ppm $H_2S$ gas were investigated by comparing the electrical resistance in air with that in the target gases of each sensor in a test box. The results showed that the maximum sensitivity of the $SnO_2:CNT$ gas sensors at room temperature was observed when the CNT concentration was 8wt%.
