Synthesis and acetone sensing properties of copper (Cu2+) substituted zinc ferrite hollow micro-nanospheres

• Published in: Ceramics international Vol. 46; no. 18; pp. 28835 - 28843
• Main Authors: Wu, Kaidi, Lu, Yuling, Liu, Yuhan, Liu, Yan, Shen, Ming, Debliquy, Marc, Zhang, Chao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.12.2020
• Subjects: Acetone; CuxZn1-xFe2O4; Gas sensor; Hollow micro-nanospheres; Gas sensor; Hollow micro-nanospheres; CuxZn1-xFe2O4; Acetone
• ISSN: 0272-8842; 1873-3956
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2020.08.049

In this work, copper (Cu2+) substituted zinc ferrite (CuxZn1-xFe2O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1)) hollow micro-nanospheres were synthesized using a facile solvothermal and annealing technology. We investigated the effects of Cu2+ substitution on morphology, structure and gas sensing properties of CuxZn1-xFe2O4 hollow micro-nanospheres. The results confirmed the successful substitution of Zn2+ with Cu2+ and the cations redistribution. In addition, the testing results revealed that CuxZn1-xFe2O4 (0.25 ≤ x ≤ 1) based sensors showed significantly enhanced responses to low concentration acetone vapor. Especially, Cu0.75Zn0.25Fe2O4 and CuFe2O4 displayed high responses of 2.37 and 2.43 to 0.8 ppm acetone at 125 °C respectively, while that of ZnFe2O4 was only 1.17. Moreover, CuFe2O4 demonstrated an excellent sensor response, ultra-low limit of detection and remarkable selectivity. The fast response speed and high stability of CuFe2O4 sensor further indicated that it was promising to apply for practical medical diagnosis. The enhanced sensing properties of Cu0.75Zn0.25Fe2O4 and CuFe2O4 sensors were explained by the effect of Cu2+ on lattice cation distribution, electron depletion layer thickness and adsorbing capacity.