Highly stable and selective ethanol sensor based on α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles prepared by Pechini sol–gel method

Abstract

In the present work, α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by Pechini sol–gel (PSG) method following annealing at 550°C. The morphology and microstructure of the prepared α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman analysis. The electrical and sensing properties were also investigated. The α-Fe2O3 based sensor showed good sensitivity and selectivity towards ethanol at the optimal temperature of 225°C. Moreover, the sensor displayed good electrical and sensing stability. These results suggest the potential applications of α-Fe2O3 synthesized by Pechini sol–gel method as a sensor material for ethanol detection.