The effects of the particle size and crystallite size on the response time for resistive oxygen gas sensor using cerium oxide thick film

Resistive oxygen sensors based on porous thick CeO2 film (obtained by firing powder of various particle sizes made by mist pyrolysis at different temperatures), were fabricated and their response time was measured. The response times for the oxygen sensors were unaffected by particle size of thick film but clearly depended on its firing temperature. The response time for the sensor using original powder fired at 1373 K was shorter than that using powder fired at 1473 K. The crystallite size increased as the firing temperature increased. It was concluded therefore that the response time for oxygen sensor based on cerium oxide thick film strongly depended on the crystallite size.