Synthesis and Study of Highly Porous Nature Gadolinium Doped CoCr2O4: Focus on the Structural, Microstructural, Electric, and Humidity Sensing Properties

this paper, we presented structural, Fourier infrared spectroscopic, and dielectric analysis of cobalt chromate (Co2+ Cr(2)(3+ )O4) with 2 mol % of gadolinium (Gd3+) rare earth metal additions under humidity and non-humidity circumstances. The Gd3+ doped Co2+ Cr23+ O4 samples were prepared by solution combustion method and sintered for 2 h at 650 degrees C to get single phase. Doped and undoped samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis providing the detailed information of the Co2+ Cr23+O4 phase and crystallinity. Furthermore, the average crystallite sizes were found to be in the range of 18 to 7 nm. The general nature of ferrite materials was revealed via FTIR analysis. The octahedral and tetrahedral stretching band in FTIR spectra were confirmed a ferrite structure without impurity. Scanning electron microscopic images exhibited that samples are highly porosity. We investigated the relevant conductivity of the samples, the reaction time of the capacitive sensor, and the humidity influence on the relative permittivity characteristics at a constant frequency of 1 kHz. Our findings indicate that Gd3+ doped Co2+ Cr23+ O4 could be exploited as an active material in humidity sensor applications.

Automated summary

In this study, the structural, Fourier infrared spectroscopic, and dielectric properties of 2 mol% gadolinium doped cobalt chromate under humidity and non-humidity conditions were investigated. The doped samples showed potential as active materials for humidity sensors.