Hollow Fe2O3/Co3O4 microcubes derived from metal-organic framework for enhanced sensing performance towards acetone

• Published in: Chinese chemical letters 2021-11, Vol.32 (11), p.3619-3622
• Main Authors: Mo, Ruixue, Han, Dongqiang, Ren, Zeng, Yang, Dazhuang, Wang, Fei, Li, Caolong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetone; Co3O4; Fe2O3; Gas sensor; Heterojunctions; Metal-organic frameworks
• ISSN: 1001-8417; 1878-5964
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.06.062

In this work, hollow Fe2O3/Co3O4 microcubes have been successfully synthesized through a hydrothermal method followed by an annealing process using metal-organic framework of Prussian blue as a soft template. The morphologies, microstructures, surface area and element compositions have been carefully characterized by a series of techniques. Meanwhile, compared with that of pure Fe2O3 and Co3O4, the gas sensor based on the hollow microcubes exhibits enhanced sensing performances towards acetone, e.g., a higher response of 21.2 and a shorter response time of 5 s towards 20 ppm acetone at a relatively low working temperature of 200 °C. Moreover, the hollow microcubes-based gas sensor still shows perfect long-term stability, excellent repeatability and the ability of sub-ppm level detection, which provides a possibility for its application in real life. The enhanced gas sensing performances can be attributed to the hollow structure with a high surface area and the formed p-n heterojunctions within the microcubes. Synergistic effect of Co3O4 decorated Fe2O3 hollow mircocubes showed enhanced sensing performance to acetone. [Display omitted]