ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, and enhanced gas sensing property for acetone

Abstract ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles with diameter of ca.10 nm were successfully synthesized under hydrothermal conditions without using any surfactant or structure-directing agents. The structure, composition and morphology of the samples were characterized by means of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area measurement. The results showed that the mole ratio of reactants ZnO to FeCl3 played an important role in controlling the composition and morphology of the products. BET specific surface area of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles was evaluated to be 115.6 m2 g−1. Interestingly, as-prepared ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles displayed enhanced gas sensing performance to acetone, which response value reached 39.5 for 200 ppm acetone gas at lower optimum working temperature of 200 °C, in comparison with the precursor ZnO (4.2) at the same condition. The gas sensing property demonstrates that as-prepared ZnFe2O4 has potential applications in the detection of acetone.