Microstructure, electrical and ethanol-sensing properties of perovskite-type SmFe0.7Co0.3O3

Ultrafine SmFe_0.7Co_0.3O₃ powder, prepared by a sol–gel method, shows a single-phase orthogonal perovskite structure. The influence of annealing temperature upon its crystal cell volume, microstructure, electrical and ethanol-sensing properties was investigated in detail. When the annealing temperature increases from 600 to 950 °C, the unit cell volume of the SmFe_0.7Co_0.3O₃ sample reduces, and its average grain size increases. When the annealing temperature increases from 600 to 850 °C, the optimal working temperature and response to ethanol of the SmFe_0.7Co_0.3O₃ sensor increase, and the response–recovery time shortens. But when the annealing temperature further increases from 850 to 950 °C, there are decreases of the optimal working temperature and sensor response, and the response–recovery time is prolonged. The results indicate that, as for sensor response, its optimal annealing temperature is about 850 °C, and the sensor based on SmFe_0.7Co_0.3O₃ annealed at 850 °C shows the highest response S = 80.8 to 300 ppm ethanol gas, and it has the best response–recovery and selectivity characteristics. When the ethanol concentration is as low as 500 ppm, the curve of its optimal response versus concentration is nearly linear. Meanwhile, the influence mechanisms of annealing temperature upon the conductance, the optimal working temperature and sensor response for SmFe_0.7Co_0.3O₃ were studied.