Methane is a colorless/odorless major greenhouse effect gas, which can explode when it accumulates at concentrations above 50,000 ppm. Its detection cannot be performed without specialized equipment, namely sensing devices. A series of MOX sensors (chemiresistors type), with CoO and CuO sensitive films were obtained using an eco-friendly and low-cost deposition technique (sol-gel). The sensing films were characterized using AFM and SEM as thin film. The transducers are based on an alumina wafer, with Au or Pt interdigital electrodes (IDE) printed onto the alumina surface. The sensor response was recorded upon sensor exposure to different methane concentrations (target gas) under lab conditions (dried target and carrier gas from gas cylinders), in a constant gas flow, with target gas concentrations in the 5-2000 ppm domain and a direct current (DC) applied to the IDE as sensor operating voltage. Humidity and cross-sensitivity (CO2) measurements were performed, along with sensor stability measurements, to better characterize the obtained sensors. The obtained results emphasize good 3-S sensor parameters (sensitivity, partial selectivity and stability) and also short response time and complete sensor recovery, completed by a low working temperature (220 °C), which are key factors for further development of a new commercial chemiresistor for methane detection.
Keywords: 5 ppm CH4; IDE; alumina wafer; cross-sensitivity/humidity test; lab conditions; low-cost/eco-friendly; sol–gel; thin films.