Synergistic effect of Pd and Sb incorporation on ethanol vapour detection of La doped tin oxide sensor

4 wt% La-doped SnO nanocrystalline powders impregnated with 0.5–1.5 wt% Pd were synthesized by a facile sol–gel method. The powders characterized through XRD, TEM, EDX as well as XPS analyses were used for the fabrication of sensors. 0.5 wt% SbO was incorporated in each case to reduce the resistance of sensors. The gas response studies revealed a large enhancement in low concentration (1–100 ppm) ethanol vapour sensing at comparatively lower operating temperature (300 °C) on 1.0 wt% Pd incorporation. The response observed (~86 %) for 10 ppm vapour was ~16 % greater compared to 4 wt% La-doped SnO with improved response (2 s) and recovery (15 s) times. The high ethanol vapor response at comparatively lower operating temperature of this sensor is attributed to the combinatorial effect of alkalescence of SnO due to La-doping and widening of depleted region by spill-over process of PdO present on SnO surface.