Ethanol sensor based on microrod-like La-doped barium stannate

Due to its importance in human health and environmental monitoring, ethanol sensing has generated large research interest across the globe. In this work, we report a simple co-precipitation method to synthesize La-doped BaSnO 3 and evaluate its ethanol sensing properties. Electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses revealed formation of crystalline BaSnO 3 having rod-like shape, few microns in length and 1–2 µm in width. The optimal sensing performance was achieved when operated at 220 °C for 4 wt% La-doped BaSnO 3 microrods for which a response as high as 48 was obtained against 100 ppm of ethanol exposure, whereas the undoped BaSnO 3 exhibited its best performance (although much lower response) at 260 °C. Multiple characterization techniques revealed that the enhancement of the sensor performance by incorporation of La was due to changes in the physico-chemical properties like specific surface area, oxygen content and electronic bandgap of the BaSnO 3 . The high repeatability, high selectivity to ethanol, fast response and recovery times, and low detection limit of 0.01 ppm suggest good potential for the 4% La-doped BaSnO 3 film as a low cost ethanol sensor.