Every gas sensor has an optimum temperature to work at. Some sensors work at room temperature others at elevated temperatures that reach for example 400 degree centigrade. My question: is there any principles to estimate working temperature of a gas sensor such as the kind of gas or the kind of sensing material?
The sensing component of many gas sensors (e.g. MOx - Metal Oxide) is not too specific - e.g. more like "sensing anything combustible". To realize sensors selective to a small(er) number of agents, on the one hand the basic MOx is doped to modulate the response.
On the other hand, selectivity may be a function of operating temperature: lower temperatures may not be sufficient for a reaction with the gas desired, higher temperatures may lead to a reaction with unwanted agents.
So the answer is basically NO. Everything has its influence: gas, sensing material, gases not to detect (if possible) and so on.
Using an existing sensor is rather simple: follow the data sheet.
Developing a new sensor is quite time consuming: research on sensing materials (including at least the type(s) of doping), build the sensor and run a lot of tests varying gas concentrations (gas to detect as well as gases to be ignored - if possible), vary temperature, vary pressure and so on. AFAIK there is a lot of research on such topics - current as well as in the past.
Nobody will prevent you from evaluating theses, patents etc. to see what useful information can be gathered. Just try to avoid copying things that are copyright protected.
Best regards
Dear Dreher,
Thank you for your answer, however, I think that using density functional theory calculations for the adsorption energy in addition to thermal distribution relations might be a key to estimate best operating temperature.
Dear Mudar Ahmed Abdulsattar,
considering what I know about these sensors, finding the temperature is to some extend handling tradeoffs:
* Sensor characteristics over temperature,evtl. humidity etc.
* Chemical activity (activation energy, speed of reaction)
* "Duration" of the effect on the sensor (until the sensory effect fades due to the evaporation or further reaction of the reaction products detected)
to mention only some obvious effects to be taken into consideration.
Anyway - wish you success.
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