Synthesis and characterization of AuNPs-modificated Fe2O3/ZnFe2O4 heterostructures for highly sensitive 1-butanol detection

In this work, the Fe2O3/ZnFe2O4 heterostructures were synthesized by solvothermal and calcination decomposition methods, and then used for 1-butanol detection. The detail morphology and chemical state of Fe2O3/ZnFe2O4 nanostructures were measured using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. To improve the gas sensing performances, different contents of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) were modified on the Fe2O3/ZnFe2O4 heterostructures. Experimental results demonstrate that the 2 mol% Au modified Fe2O3/ZnFe2O4 (A2FZ) sensor shows the highest response of 27.6 toward 200 ppm 1-butanol. Moreover, A2FZ device also exhibits good response/recovery times (6 s/16 s toward 2 ppm 1-butanol), low limit of detection (LOD = 50 ppb), and excellent stability properties. Furthermore, the improved gas sensing mechanism is also discussed for AuNPs-modificated Fe2O3/ZnFe2O4 heterostructures, and it is promising to be used as a potential gas sensing materials for 1-butanol detection.