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An ultrahigh-sensitivity and selective sensing material for ethanol: α-/γ-Fe2O3 mixed-phase mesoporous nanofibers

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Abstract

A process for synthesizing Fe2O3 based on electrospinning and the hard-template method was proposed such that the crystal phase of Fe2O3 could be tailored with precision. Mesoporous γ-Fe2O3, α-/γ-Fe2O3, and α-Fe2O3 nanofibers could be fabricated successfully by changing the synthesis parameters. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analyses, Raman spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption analyses were used to characterize the structures of the synthesized products. The optimal calcination conditions for preparing α-/γ-Fe2O3 nanofibers with the highest ethanol response were determined through ethanol-sensing measurements. The mixed-phase material exhibited a significantly higher sensitivity than the corresponding purephase ones. The superior ethanol-sensing performance of the α-/γ-Fe2O3 nanofibers suggested that they may be suitable for use in alcohol sensing. Hence, a novel strategy for improving the sensing performance of metal oxide semiconductors is to assemble the different crystalline forms of the same metal oxide in one structure. Finally, the mechanism responsible for the sensing performance of α-/γ-Fe2O3 being higher than those of γ-Fe2O3 and α-Fe2O3 was elucidated on the basis of data from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and resistance measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Tobacco Industry Cigarette Smoke (Shanghai Tobacco Group Co., Ltd.), Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Shuang Yan & Qingsheng Wu

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    Guangtao Zan

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  1. Shuang Yan
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  2. Guangtao Zan
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Correspondence to Qingsheng Wu.

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Yan, S., Zan, G. & Wu, Q. An ultrahigh-sensitivity and selective sensing material for ethanol: α-/γ-Fe2O3 mixed-phase mesoporous nanofibers. Nano Res. 8, 3673–3686 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-015-0867-y

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