Novel mesoporous filters for selective gas absorption

• Main Authors: Baumbach, M., Schutze, A., Fei Cheng, Kelly, S., Delprat, H., Parret, F., Menini, P., Soulantica, K., Chaudret, B., Maisonnat, A.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Ceramics; Communication, education, history, and philosophy; Composite materials; Costs; Energy consumption; Exact sciences and technology; Filters; Gas detectors; General equipment and techniques; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Mesoporous materials; Physics; Physics literature and publications; Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing; Silicon; Testing
• DOI: 10.1109/ICSENS.2004.1426326

Semiconductor gas sensors have a proven potential for low cost and highly sensitive gas detection. However, selectivity remains one of the main problems for many applications. We report a new kind of mesoporous ceramic filter with nanoscale pores. The ceramic filter offers mechanical protection and can help to boost selectivity enormously through selective gas absorption. The developed nano-technological filters are based on mesoporous secondary and ternary silicon nitride derivatives with a defined particle size and are prepared via a new sol gel route. The interaction of the filters with CO, NO/sub 2/, H/sub 2/ and propane were evaluated using broadband sensors. Highly selective absorption was observed for different gases, especially NO/sub 2/. From these experiments a filter efficiency value is calculated, which allows easy selection of suitable filter materials for different applications.