Mechanochemical Synthesis of TiO₂-CeO₂ Mixed Oxides Utilized as a Screen-Printed Sensing Material for Oxygen Sensor

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and cerium dioxide (CeO2) are recognized oxygen sensing materials with high sensitivity.
• Limited practical application of these materials in gas detection persists.
• Synergistic effects in TiO2-CeO2 mixed oxides offer potential for improved oxygen monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the oxygen sensing properties of TiO2-CeO2 prepared via mechanochemical treatment.
• To evaluate the performance of these novel mixed oxide sensors for gas detection.

Main Methods:

• Mechanochemical treatment of TiO2-CeO2 mixtures.
• Screen printing of thick films to create porous sensing layers.
• Electrical measurements of sensor response to varying oxygen concentrations.

Main Results:

• TiO2-CeO2 films exhibited significantly lower electrical resistance compared to pure oxides.
• A TiO2:CeO2 composition of 0.8:0.2, milled for 100 min, showed the lowest resistance.
• The most sensitive material was a TiO2:CeO2 mixture (0.5:0.5) milled for 100 min.
• Effective sensing was achieved at an operating temperature as low as 320 °C.

Conclusions:

• Mechanochemically treated TiO2-CeO2 demonstrates potential as an effective oxygen sensing material.
• The developed sensor operates at lower temperatures, classifying it as a semiconductor sensor.
• This research opens avenues for utilizing mechanochemically synthesized mixed oxides in gas detection.