sensing properties of La0.8Pb0.2FeO3 perovskite

a b s t r a c t The nanocrystalline La0.8Pb0.2Fe1 − xZnxO3 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.20) powders with orthorhombic perov- skite structure were synthesized by a novel self-combustion method using polyvinyl alcohol as colloidal medium. The samples were investigated with regard to their composition and microstructure, using XRD and SEM-EDX methods, their electric properties and gas-sensing properties (resistivity response) to ethanol, acetone and hydrogen. The crystalline lattice constants, the porosity, specific surface area and electric resistivity increase with the increasing amount of zinc ions, which substitute the iron in La0.8Pb0.2FeO3-based perovskite (x = 0). The studied samples show p-type semi-conducting properties for all the studied gases within the temperature range of 100-380 ◦C. For acetone at the concentration of 400 ppm in the case of the sample with x = 0, the response value is 140; it increases with the increasing quantity of Zn 2+