Selective Oxygen Sensor Prepared Using Ni-doped Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles

Abstract

In this work, pure and Ni-doped zinc ferrite nanoparticles, Zn(1-x)NixFe2O4 (x = 0.02, 0.04 and 0.06), were prepared by coprecipitation followed by calcination. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the shrinkage in the lattice by incorporation of Ni in zinc ferrite nanoparticles. The prepared nanoparticles were 25–100 nm in size as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. Oxygen sensing characteristics were evaluated for all the prepared compositions. The results showed an increase in the response of the sensors towards oxygen by Ni doping. The increase in response may be attributed to the increase in oxygen adsorption on the particles surface by Ni doping. The response time of Zn0.96Ni0.04Fe2O4 was lowest and was 10 s for 400 ppm oxygen concentration at 180 °C. Recovery time of Ni-doped concentrations was lower than the pure zinc ferrite nanoparticles sensor. The response of Ni-doped zinc ferrite nanoparticles sensors was stable than that of the pure zinc ferrite.