Nanostructured ZnFe₂O₄thick film as room temperature liquefied petroleum gas sensor

Abstract

In the present work, thick film of nanostructured zinc ferrite was prepared by screen printing method and its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sensing properties were investigated. The structural and surface morphological characterisations of the sample were analysed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The minimum crystallite size of ZnFe2O4 calculated from Scherrer's formula is found to be 4 nm. SEM images exhibit the porous nature of the sensing material with a number of active sites. Optical characterisation of the film was carried out by ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer. The estimated value of band gap of the film was found 1.91 eV. The LPG sensing properties of the zinc ferrite film were investigated at room temperature for different vol.% of LPG. The variations in electrical resistance of the film were measured with the exposure of LPG as a function of time. The maximum values of sensitivity and percentage sensor response were found 16 and 1785, respectively, for 5 vol.% of LPG. These experimental results show that nanostructured zinc ferrite is a promising material for LPG sensor.