Premium
α‐Fe 2 O 3 nanospindles loaded with ZnO nanocrystals: Synthesis and improved gas sensing performance
Author(s) -
Zhang Jixia,
Zhu Guoxing,
Shen Xiaoping,
Ji Zhenyuan,
Chen Kangmin
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
crystal research and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.377
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1521-4079
pISSN - 0232-1300
DOI - 10.1002/crat.201300397
Subject(s) - high resolution transmission electron microscopy , materials science , nanocomposite , transmission electron microscopy , acetone , scanning electron microscope , chemical engineering , nanocrystal , hydrothermal circulation , chloroform , spectroscopy , selectivity , analytical chemistry (journal) , propanol , methanol , nanotechnology , chemistry , catalysis , organic chemistry , composite material , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
ZnO/α‐Fe 2 O 3 nanocomposites were fabricated through a two‐step hydrothermal method. The morphology and composition of the as‐synthesized products were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The gas sensing properties of the fabricated products were investigated towards ethanol, acetone, propanol, isopropanol, formaldehyde, chloroform and so on. The results demonstrated that the ZnO/α‐Fe 2 O 3 nanocomposites exhibited excellent sensing properties and showed remarkably higher sensing responses and much lower optimum operating temperature compared to individual ZnO and α‐Fe 2 O 3 . In addition, the ZnO/α‐Fe 2 O 3 nanocomposites have some selectivity for ethanol, propanol and isopropanol. The possible gas sensing mechanism was also proposed. Our studies demonstrate that our fabricated materials could be widely used in the future.