A novel poly (vinyl alcohol)-aided ZnO/Fe 2 O 3 nanocomposite as an ascorbic acid sensor

The application of zinc oxide-based nanocomposite is one of the novel approaches utilized for the development of electronic devices. The sol-gel and auto combustion procedures were employed to synthesize porous PVA aided ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite (PBNC). The n-type iron (III) oxide was successfully coupled with n-type ZnO. The characterizations conducted to explore the significant changes in the physical properties of as-synthesized materials revealed that the surface area, porosity, and charge transfer capability improvement on the PBNC, compared to ZnO. Using the DTG analysis, 500 °C was confirmed to be the optimal calcination temperature to degrade the PVA polymer after acting as a capping agent and impurities that have a boiling point of less than 500 °C. The XRD pattern and TEM image analysis validated the nanometer range size of the materials (10–70 nm). The SEM image and BET spectral analyses confirmed the porous nature of the PBNC, supporting results obtained from the HRTEM (IFFT) and SAED pattern analysis. The EDXS, XPS, and HRTEM analyses were appliedapplied for Zn, Fe, and O elemental composition and certainty of ZnO. The presence of improved charge transfer property for PBNC, compared to ZnO, has been evidenced by CV and EIS studies. The PBNC also showed enhanced ascorbic acid detection capability compared to ZnO.