Silver Enhances Hematite Nanoparticles Based Ethanol Sensor Response and Selectivity at Room Temperature

Author(s)

Garcia-Osorio, Daniel ^[1] ; Hidalgo-Falla, Pilar ^[2] ; Peres, Henrique E. M. ^[3] ; Goncalves, Josue M. ^[4] ; Araki, Koiti ^[4] ; Garcia-Segura, Sergi ^[5] ; Picasso, Gino ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Natl Univ Engn, Fac Sci, Lab Phys Chem Res, Av Tupac Amaru 210, Lima 15333 - Peru

^[2] Univ Brasilia, UNB DF 480, Fac Gama, Lab Nanotechnol, Area Especial Ind Projecao A, BR-72444240 Brasilia, DF - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, EPUSP, Dept Elect Syst Engn, Av Prof Luciano Gualberto 158, Trav 3, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Chem, Dept Fundamental Chem, Av Prof Lineu Prestes 748, BR-05508000 Butanta, SP - Brazil

^[5] Arizona State Univ, Sch Sustainable Engn & Built Environm, Nanosyst Engn Res Ctr Nanotechnol Enabled Water T, Tempe, AZ 85287 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SENSORS; v. 21, n. 2 JAN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Gas sensors are fundamental for continuous online monitoring of volatile organic compounds. Gas sensors based on semiconductor materials have demonstrated to be highly competitive, but are generally made of expensive materials and operate at high temperatures, which are drawbacks of these technologies. Herein is described a novel ethanol sensor for room temperature (25 degrees C) measurements based on hematite (alpha-Fe2O3)/silver nanoparticles. The AgNPs were shown to increase the oxide semiconductor charge carrier density, but especially to enhance the ethanol adsorption rate boosting the selectivity and sensitivity, thus allowing quantification of ethanol vapor in 2-35 mg L-1 range with an excellent linear relationship. In addition, the alpha-Fe2O3/Ag 3.0 wt% nanocomposite is cheap, and easy to make and process, imparting high perspectives for real applications in breath analyzers and/or sensors in food and beverage industries. This work contributes to the advance of gas sensing at ambient temperature as a competitive alternative for quantification of conventional volatile organic compounds. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/24725-4 - Supramolecular chemistry and nanotechnology
• Grantee: Henrique Eisi Toma
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/16896-7 - Development of amperometric and impedimetric sensors based on double hydroxides of nickel and vanadium (alpha-NixV1-x(OH)2) and their nanocomposites with expandable graphite/graphene
• Grantee: Josué Martins Gonçalves
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral