High response and excellent selectivity acetone sensor based on γ-Fe2O3 hollow microspheres

The γ-Fe2O3 hollow microspheres were synthesized by a simple solvothermal method and a subsequent two-step annealing process. The sensor based on γ-Fe2O3 hollow microspheres exhibited an ultra-fast response time (1s), high response (232.7), and excellent selectivity to 100 ppm acetone at the optimum operating temperature (173 °C). The excellent gas sensing performance could be attributed to the large specific surface area (182.6 m2g−1) and a large number of oxygen vacancies, which would enhance the adsorption of oxygen molecules on the surface of the material. Moreover, the sensor achieves a response of 5.64 to 1 ppm acetone, which enables the prepared γ-Fe2O3 hollow microspheres a promising candidate for clinical detection of diabetic ketosis.