Development of highly sensitive Cu doped ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles-based xylene sensor
摘要
Cu doped ZnFe2O4 (CZFO) nanoparticles have been synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion method. The prepared samples were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific sur-face area analysis. Crystal structure and morphology observations depicted formation Cu doped ZnFe2O4 (CZFO) nanoparticles with porous morphology. BET analysis reveals that the surface area was 50 m2/g for pure ZnFe2O4 (ZFO) as and 72 m2/g for 5%Cu doped ZnFe2O4 (5%CZFO) nanoparticles. Both pure and Cu doped ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles were tested towards xylene gas at 240 °C for 100 ppm concentration. It was found that ZFO nanoparticles can achieve response upto 23% towards xylene gas at 260 °C for 100 ppm concentration whereas insertion Cu into ZnFe2O4 increased the response upto 44.3% at 240 °C for 100 ppm concentration. In addition, CZFO nanoparticles showed quick response/ recovery rate 56/128 s respectively and high stability. The selectivity towards various gases such as ethanol, ammonia, triethylamine, xylene and acetone.