Microsensor based on low temperature cofired ceramics and gas-sensitive thin film

Abstract

A novel design of gas sensor using low temperature cofired ceramics (LTCC) and thin film technologies is presented. The LTCC structure is composed essentially of two ceramic layers with interlayer thick film Pt heater, interdigitated electrodes on top, contact pads and metallic connections realised by vias. The thin films of both SnO 2 and In 2O 3, intentionally doped and activated, were deposited on top of the structure. With some modifications of the lamination process and heat treatment parameters, the authors obtained the upper ceramic layer with the roughness not exceeding 250 nm, what was suitable for thin film technology. The films deposited onto such LTCC structure revealed the sensing properties very similar to the reference films deposited onto glass. The gas-sensitive films were tested with changing concentrations of reducing and oxidising gases in air. The necessary sensor working temperature was obtained and stabilised using a custom-built digital controller. The low heat capacity of the sensor structure enabled also a sinusoidal temperature control. The satisfactory results obtained by the authors indicate that the connection of LTCC and thin film technologies can lead to the fabrication of good quality gas sensors.