VAPOUR SENSING CHARACTERISTICS OF ZNO-ZNMN2O4 CERAMICS USING THE VISUAL BASIC-BASED MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

Thongchai  Panmatarith; Sudarat  Innoi

Authors

Thongchai Panmatarith Materials Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, 90112, Thailand
Sudarat Innoi Materials Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, 90112, Thailand

Abstract

In the present paper, ZnMnO3 ceramics in a disk shape, synthesized by mixed oxide technique, has beeninvestigated for NH3, ethyl alcohol, commercial liquor, methanol, H2O2 and acetone vapours. Structuralanalysis of the ZnMnO3 ceramics was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD patternrevealed the nature of the film with a mixed phase comprising of ZnO and ZnMn2O4. The measurementsand processing of the data was made using ADC0809, 74LS244, ET-PCI8255V3 data acquisition card,computer and Visual Basic program. The system is easy to setup and use. A visual basic program isproposed and explained in order to evaluate vapour response property. Results showed that theresistance of this sample at room temperature decreased in the presence of these vapours at 30°C inair atmosphere. The measured sensitivities to some vapours (NH3, ethyl alcohol, commercial liquor,methanol, H2O2 and acetone vapours) of this sample were investigated. It is clear that this material isthe most sensitive to NH3 vapour and the least sensitive to acetone vapour. The gas sensitivity largelydepends on the kind of test gas species. The sample is sensitive and selective to NH3, ethyl alcohol andcommercial liquor vapours.

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