Investigating the Temperature-Dependent Kinetics in Humidity-Resilient Tin–Titanium-Based Metal Oxide Gas Sensors

Abstract

Humidity is a well-known interference factor in metal oxide (MOX) gas sensors, significantly impacting their performance in various applications such as environmental monitoring and medical diagnostics. This study investigates the effects of adsorbed water on MOX conductivity using two different materials: pure tin oxide (SnO2) and a tin–titanium–niobium oxide mixture (SnTiNb)xO2 (STN). The results reveal that (SnTiNb)xO2 sensors exhibit reduced sensitivity to humidity compared to pure tin oxide, rendering them more suitable for applications where humidity presence is critical. We aimed to shed light on a still controversial debate over the mechanisms involved in the water surface interactions for the aforementioned materials also by exploring theoretical studies in the literature. Experimental analysis involves varying temperatures (100 to 800 °C) to understand the kinetics of surface reactions. Additionally, a brief high-temperature heating method is demonstrated to effectively remove adsorbed humidity from sensor surfaces. The study employs Arrhenius-like plots for graphical interpretation, providing insights into various water adsorption/desorption phenomena. Overall, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of humidity in MOX gas sensor mechanisms and offers practical insights for sensor design and optimization.