Influence of colloidal silver nanoparticles on the novel flower-like titanium dioxide oxygen sensor performances.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2-anatase phase) thin films, consisting of agglomerated flower-like nanoparticles, have been synthesized using an ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) method in combination with titanium (IV) oxide acetylacetonate [TiO(acac)2], and methanol at 550 degrees C. These thin films were subsequently thermally treated in air, at 950 degrees C for six hours, and the flower-like particles were transformed into smooth surfaces mainly formed by the TiO2-rutile phase. In order to prepare oxygen sensors of good performance, TiO2 thin films were deposited on interdigitated gold electrodes with contacted alumina substrates. The silver colloidal solution was impregnated on the TiO2 thin film. Since the solvent in which the silver nanoparticles are suspended evaporates at 200 degrees C, the thin films were then annealed at this temperature in air for one hour. The effect of colloidal silver nanoparticles on the response of the thin films TiO2 oxygen sensors has been studied, in a mixture with zero-grade air. The gas-sensing properties of TiO2 sensors in an atmosphere of 10(4) ppm of oxygen were measured between 25 and 500 degrees C. The experimental results obtained with colloidal silver nanoparticles as surface additive show that the sensitivity to an O2 concentration of 100 ppm in zero grade air at 300 degrees C reaches a stationary value of 0.40, and 0.03, for TiO2-anatase and -rutile phase films, respectively. This values are as high as those reported for oxygen sensors prepared by more expensive techniques.