Cerium doped MgFe₂O₄ nanocomposites: highly sensitive and fast response-recoverable acetone gas sensor

We report a facile synthesis of Cerium doped MgFe₂O₄ nanocomposite ferrite and its usability as gas-sensor via simple and robust synthesis approach of glycine-combustion-process. The route utilizes metal nitrates (Ce, Mg, Fe -nitrates) and glycine, in aqueous solution. The involved sol-gel concept was explained on the basis of zwitterion characteristic of glycine. The analysis of the developed ferrite was done in two different ways - i) effect of Ce-doping concentration, and ii) effect of sintering temperature. With the ferrite system MgFe_2-xCe_xO₄, the doping concentration of Ce was varied from 0.04 to 0.12 with the step x = 0.04, and sintering was done at two different temperatures i.e. 973K and 1173K. As-produced composite system was examined for their gas response towards reducing gases such as LPG, ethanol, acetone and ammonia. The material displayed excellent gas sensing properties towards acetone for wide operating temperature range of 575-675 K. The XRD analysis revealed nanocrystallinity with crystallite size in the range of 28-34 nm. Microstructural analysis confirmed the porous morphology due to auto-ignition during the combustion reaction. The present investigations confirm the produced MgFe_2-xCe_xO₄ is a promising candidate for fabricating high performance acetone sensor.