Issue 4, 2024, Issue in Progress

Facile synthesis of NiFe2O4-based nanoblocks for low-temperature detection of trace n-butanol

Abstract

Fe2O3-loaded NiFe2O4 nanoblocks were successfully developed under a straightforward one-step hydrothermal synthesis method, aiming to detect trace amounts of n-butanol at the parts per billion (ppb) concentration range. The synthesized samples were comprehensively characterized using various techniques, including XRD, SEM, XPS, TEM and SAED. At a tantalizingly low temperature of 130 °C, the Ni/Fe-2 gas sensor demonstrated the optimum response (Ra/Rg = 29.747 @ 10 ppm) to n-butanol. Furthermore, Ni/Fe-2 sensor exhibited remarkable stability and reproducibility and an ultra-low detection limit. The enhanced gas sensitivity was primarily due to the assembly of Ni/Fe-2 nanoblocks from differently sized nanospheres, which exhibited a rich surface porosity conducive to gas adsorption. Besides, the formation of heterojunctions and the augmentation of oxygen vacancy content are also conducive to enhancing gas sensing capabilities. The Ni/Fe-2 sensor is expected to successfully detect trace amounts of n-butanol.

Graphical abstract: Facile synthesis of NiFe2O4-based nanoblocks for low-temperature detection of trace n-butanol

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Oct 2023
Accepted
13 Dec 2023
First published
10 Jan 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2024,14, 2214-2225

Facile synthesis of NiFe2O4-based nanoblocks for low-temperature detection of trace n-butanol

X. Qian, Y. Chen, Y. Tao, J. Zhang, G. Zhang and H. Xu, RSC Adv., 2024, 14, 2214 DOI: 10.1039/D3RA07264A

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