Synthesis and characterization of Ag doped LaCoO3 nanowire sputter-deposited coatings as heavy hydrocarbon sensors

In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of La1-xAgxCoO3-alpha nanowires by reactive magnetron sputtering. After a short description of the experimental and hydrocarbon sensing bench devices, a first part will be dedicated to the chemical, microstructural and structural characterization (SEM, XRD,...) of the coatings. As deposited coatings are amorphous and a post heat-treatment under air at 873 K is necessary to crystallise them in the perovskite structure. Finally, the performance as dodecane-sensors of these coatings with amorphous and crystalline structures will be discussed depending on dodecane concentrations and sensitive surface's temperature and will be compared to those of La0.40Sr0.15Ag0.45CoO3-alpha nanowires.