Structural and gas-sensing properties of WO/sub 3/ nanocrystalline powders obtained by a sol-gel method from tungstic acid

WO/sub 3/ nanocrystalline powders were obtained from tungstic acid following a sol-gel process. Evolution of structural properties with annealing temperature was studied by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. These structural properties were compared with those of WO/sub 3/ nanopowders obtained by the most common process of pyrolysis of ammonium paratungstate, usually used in gas sensors applications. Sol-gel WO/sub 3/ showed a high sensor response to NO/sub 2/ and low response to CO and CH/sub 4/. The response of these sensor devices was compared with that of WO/sub 3/ obtained from pyrolysis, showing the latter a worse sensor response to NO/sub 2/. Influence of operating temperature, humidity, and film thickness on NO/sub 2/ detection was studied in order to improve the sensing conditions to this gas.