title: Tailoring the structural and microstructural properties of nanosized tantalum oxide for high temperature electrochemical gas sensors.
abstract: Ta2O5 nanopowders to be used as sensing electrodes in high temperature electrochemical gas sensors for hydrocarbons detection were synthesized using a sol-gel method and their structural and microstructural properties were investigated. The as-synthesized powders were heated at different temperatures in the range 250-1000 degrees C and characterized by TG-DTA, XRD, SEM, TEM and FT-IR. This investigation allowed to identify the correct thermal treatments to achieve the microstructural, textural and functional stability of materials working at high temperature, preserving their nano-metric grain size. Planar sensors fabricated by using Ta2O5 powders treated at 750 degrees C showed promising results for the selective detection of propylene at high temperature (700 degrees C). The good stability of the sensing response after gas exposure at high temperature was correlated to the stable microstructure the electrodes. Thus, Ta2O5 powders seems good candidate as sensing electrode for sensors for automotive exhausts monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonavita
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Bartolomeo
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chevallier
authors.forename: Cadia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Ottavi
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Licoccia
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Traversa
mesh_terms: D000475:Alkenes / Q000032:analysis*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D013635:Tantalum / Q000737:chemistry*; D014159:Transducers
chemical_list: D000475:Alkenes; D005740:Gases; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010087:Oxides; D013635:Tantalum; C013658:propylene; C078151:tantalum oxide