Oxygen-sensing property of sol-gel-derived SrTi_1−xFe_xO_3−δ thin films with different iron concentrations (x = 0.2–0.8)

In this contribution, SrTi_1−xFe_xO_3−δ thin film gas sensors with different iron concentrations (x = 0.2 to 0.8) were fabricated using a modified sol-gel spin-coating method and annealed at 650 °C for 1 h under synthetic air ambient. X-ray diffraction revealed the single phase polycrystalline structure of the thin films and their crystallinity decreased with iron concentrations. The films with high iron concentrations were not well crystallized and had large amount of amorphous-like structures, as indicated by transmission electron microscopy observation. The oxygen-sensing properties of the sensors were examined at different operating temperatures. The SrTi_1−xFe_xO_3−δ thin film sensors with x ≤ 0.4 showed a normal p-type-sensing response whereas sensors with x ≥ 0.5 exhibited anomalous n-type-sensing response. This abnormal-sensing behavior can be explained by amorphous-like structures in the films with higher iron concentrations, which was caused by incomplete formation of cubic perovskite phase. - Highlights: • SrTi_1−xFe_xO_3−δ thin films were deposited using modified sol-gel spin-coating method. • Crystallinity of the thin films decreased with iron concentrations. • Thin films with x ≤ 0.4 showed good and reversible p-type-sensing response. • Thin films with x ≥ 0.5 showed anomalous n-type-sensing response. • N-type response was attributed to presence of amorphous phases in the thin films