aSensor and Actuator Division, Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, 196 Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 32, India
bDepartment of Ceramic Engineering, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
Abstract:
Nanocrystalline gamma iron oxide (γ-Fe2O3) has been synthesized at room temperature through sonication-assisted precipitation technique. The key in obtaining γ-Fe2O3 at room temperature lies in exploiting high-power ultrasound (600 W). The gas-sensing properties to n-butane of pure γ-Fe2O3 were investigated by studying the electrical properties of the sensor elements fabricated from the synthesized powder. The maximum response (90%) of the sensor to 1000 ppm n-butane at 300 °C can be explained on the basis of catalytic activity of the nanocrystallites. The response and recovery time of the sensor to 1000 ppm n-butane were less than 12 s and 120 s, respectively.