La0.8Pb0.1Ca0.1Fe1−xCoxO3 thin films as ozone-sensitive layers

This paper describes the realization and characterization of $${\text{La}}_{0.8}{\text{Pb}}_{0.1}{\text{Ca}}_{0.1}{\text{Fe}}_{1-x}{\text{Co}}_{x}{\text{O}}_{3}$$ gas-based sensors. $${\text{La}}_{0.8}{\text{Pb}}_{0.1}{\text{Ca}}_{0.1}{\text{Fe}}_{1-x}{\text{Co}}_{x}{\text{O}}_{3}$$ $$(0.00\le x\le 0.20)$$ thin films are prepared using the drop-coating method over a $${\text{Si}}/{\text{SiO}}_{2}$$ substrate with inter-digitated $${\text{Pt}}$$ -electrodes. The sensors, thus, produced exhibit a good sensitivity to ozone at low concentration. The substitution of iron atoms by cobalt ones increases the sensor responses “S,” from 1.716 for $$x = 0.00$$ to 6.584 to $$x = 0.20$$ for an ozone concentration equal to $$400\,{\text{ppb}}$$ . In addition, the substitution of iron by cobalt induces a decrease in the sensor-operating temperature from $$270\,^\circ{\text{C}}$$ for the parent compound $$(x = 0.00)$$ to $$170\,^\circ{\text{C}}$$ for $$x = 0.20$$ .