Fast and real-time acetone gas sensor using hybrid ZnFe2O4/ZnO hollow spheresElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Further experimental details on fabrication of gas sensors, the FESEM images, the EDX spot scanning images and detailed sensing performance of sensing materials are listed. See DOI: 10.1039/c6ra12201a

• Main Authors: Zhang, Rui, Zhang, Tong, Zhou, Tingting, Lou, Zheng, Deng, Jianan, Wang, Lili
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: 13.07.2016
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ra12201a

Special hollow ZnFe 2 O 4 /ZnO hybrid spheres were successfully designed and synthesized via a facile hydrothermal procedure. Carbon spheres were used as the core template, which were removed during the calcination process in an air-rich atmosphere, thus leading to interior voids and an outer shell structure due to the contraction and combustion of the carbon spheres. The hybrid ZnFe 2 O 4 /ZnO hollow spheres not only possess a hollow structure, but also have a porous shell with a thickness of approximately 30 nm. Inspired by this special structure and design composition, a gas sensor based on the hybrid ZnFe 2 O 4 /ZnO hollow spheres showed a high response and fast response/recovery speed compared with nanoparticles. A short response time usually enables a gas sensor to accurately detect and real-time monitor a certain target gas. This study may give insight for the rational fabrication of high performance sensing materials. Special hybrid ZnFe 2 O 4 /ZnO hollow spheres show excellent acetone sensing properties.