SYNTHESIS OF THICK FILM Fe 2 O 3 -NiO CERAMICS USING LOCAL Fe 2 O 3 FOR ACETONE GAS SENSOR

Abstract

In order to get self capability in gas sensor especially acetone gas sensor by utilization of local material, thick film Fe 2 O 3 -NiO ceramics have been fabricated using local Fe 2 O 3 as raw material. Powder of Fe 2 O 3 has been processed from mineral by dissolution and precipitation. The derived powder was mixed with NiO powder homogeneously with composition of 50-50 in mole %. The mixed powder was then mixed with Organic Vehicle (OV) made of alpha terpineol and ethyl cellulose with composition of 75 weight % mixed powder and 25 weight % OV forming a paste. The paste was coated on alumina substrates by screen printing method, then fired at 1000 °C for 90 minutes to get thick film ceramics. The thick film was analyzed using X-RayDiffraction (XRD). The film was subjected to Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analyses. Resistance of the thick films was masured at different temperatures in air and acetone gas atmosphere. Analyses of XRD showed that the produced ceramic has phase of NiFe 2 O 4 ,. Data of SEM showed that the ceramic has small grain and high porosity. Electrical data showed that the ceramic was sensitive to acetone gas. Keywords: Thick film, Gas sensor, Acetone, Fe 2 O 3 , NiO, NiFe 2 O 4 .