Fabrication of α-Fe2O3@graphene nanostructures for enhanced gas-sensing property to ethanol

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 292; pp. 278 - 284
• Main Authors: Liang, Shiming, Zhu, Junwu, Wang, Chao, Yu, Songtao, Bi, Huiping, Liu, Xiaoheng, Wang, Xin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.02.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Gas sensor; Graphene; Physics; α-Fe2O3; α-Fe2O3; Graphene; Gas sensor; Inorganic compounds; Iron oxide; α-Fe; Measurement sensor; Transition element compounds; Nanostructures; O
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2013.11.130

•α-Fe2O3@graphene nanocomposites were developed by one-step facile hydrothermal method.•α-Fe2O3@graphene nanocomposites exhibit good gas-sensing performance to ethanol in comparison with pure α-Fe2O3.•The gas sensing mechanism of as-prepared nanocomposites to ethanol is investigated. A simple and straightforward strategy was developed for anchoring α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles on graphene as gas sensor material. The XRD and TEM results indicate that graphene sheets are decorated with α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles with various diameters and shapes. To demonstrate the potential applications, we have fabricated gas sensors using the as-synthesized α-Fe2O3@graphene and investigated sensor activity for ethanol detection. The results show that an appropriate content of graphene dopant could effectively enhance the gas-sensing properties of α-Fe2O3 operated at different temperatures. Especially, the α-Fe2O3@graphene (contained 2wt% of graphene) sensor exhibits better sensor performances in comparison with pure α-Fe2O3 counterpart, indicating the potential applications as sensor material toward ethanol detection.