Gas sensing properties of magnesium ferrite prepared by co-precipitation method

Polycrystalline magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) was prepared by the co-precipitation method. The synthesized compound was characterized for their phase and morphology by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Conductance responses of the (MgFe2O4) were measured towards gases like hydrogen sulfide (H2S), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ethanol vapors (C2H5OH), SOx, H-2, NOx, NH3, methanol, acetone and petrol. The gas sensing characterstics were obtained by measuring the sensitivity as a function of various controlling factors like operating temperatures and concentrations of gases. It was found that the sensor exhibited various responses towards these gases at different operating temperatures. Furthermore; the MgFe2O4 based sensor exhibited a fast response and a good recovery towards petrol at temperature 250 degrees C. The results of the response towards petrol reveal that (MgFe2O4) synthesized by a simple co-precipitation method, would be a suitable material for the fabrication of the petrol sensor. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.