Room Temperature Methanol Sensor Based on Ferrite Cobalt (CoFe2O4) Porous Nanoparticles

Abstract

Background and Objectives: In this work, porous nanoparticles of ferrite cobalt were prepared by dissolving CoCl2.6H2O and FeCl3 in ethylene glycol in a hydrothermal process. Using ethylene glycol instead of DI water as a solvent would cause to provide porous structure of ferrite cobalt. Methods: In the present paper, 0.05 ml of colloidal fluid of fabricated nanostructure was injected on interdigitated electrodes (IDE) on a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate by a drop casting process. Morphological and structural characterizations of structure were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy and the obtained results of analyses show the porous nanostructure of the material. Results: Sensor's performance in detection of gas vapors was evaluated in different temperatures which has the best response (20.38% for 100ppm methanol vapors) for methanol vapors at room temperature. performance of sensor in selection of methanol vapors, chemical stability and repeatability of that, makes it useful to profit it in different fields and industries. Conclusion: Porous nanoparticles of CoFe2O4 were prepared by a hydrothermal process. By benefiting of XRD analysis and SEM images, porosity of nanostructure was approved. Response of sensor in different temperatures was measured. At room temperature, it has the best response of 21.38% for 100 ppm methanol vapors. Room temperature working of sensor causes reducing in power consumption and decreasing risks of working in high temperatures. This sensor has a good selectivity to methanol vapors in presence of ethanol, acetone, methane and LPG vapors. Repeatability and chemical stability of sensor in long times of working were approved.======================================================================================================Copyrights©2018 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, as long as the original authors and source are cited. No permission is required from the authors or the publishers.======================================================================================================