We report the microstructure and gas-sensing properties of a nonequilibrium TiO(2)-SnO(2) solid solution prepared by the sol-gel method. In particular, we focus on the effect of Cd doping on the sensing behavior of the TiO(2)-SnO(2) sensor. Of all volatile organic compound gases examined, the sensor with Cd doping exhibits exclusive selectivity as well as high sensitivity to formaldehyde, a main harmful indoor gas. The key gas-sensing quantities, maximum sensitivity, optimal working temperature, and response and recovery time, are found to meet the basic industrial needs. This makes the Cd-doped TiO(2)-SnO(2) composite a promising sensor material for detecting the formaldehyde gas.
Keywords: Cd doping; TiO2-SnO2; formaldehyde; gas sensor; volatile organic compound.