Synthesis and acetone gas sensing properties of Ag activated hollow sphere structured ZnFe2O4

Sheet stacked ZnFe₂O₄ hollow spheres have been synthesized through a simple hydrothermal method using Zn(CH₃COO)₂ and Fe(NO₃)₃ as Zn and Fe sources, respectively. Then a series of Ag activated ZnFe₂O₄ composites are prepared. XRD patterns demonstrate that the as-synthesized powders are pure ZnFe₂O₄. FE-SEM images exhibit that the as-synthesized Ag-ZnFe₂O₄ particles are spherical with the diameter of 800–1000?nm. TEM images demonstrate that the as-synthesized Ag-ZnFe₂O₄ are hollow sphere structure. The gas sensing tests show that 0.25?wt% Ag-ZnFe₂O₄ has the highest responses to 100?ppm acetone vapor at 175?°C, and response time and recovery time are 17 and 148?s respectively. In addition, 0.25?wt% Ag-ZnFe₂O₄ has a good selectivity to acetone. Ag activated ZnFe₂O₄ composites exhibit excellent acetone gas sensing properties and gives potential for the detection of acetone vapor in the application of practical industrial processes and health control.