Ultrahigh sensitivity of Nd-doped porous α-Fe2O3 nanotubes to acetone

Pure and Nd-doped porous alpha-Fe2O3 nanotubes were successfully synthesized via a facile single-capillary electrospinning method, followed by calcination treatment. The morphologies of the as-prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The crystal structures and components were determined by X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, respectively. The gas-sensing properties of the as-prepared samples were studied, and the results indicate the ultrahigh sensitivity of Nd-doped porous alpha-Fe2O3 nanotubes to acetone. The response of Nd-doped porous alpha-Fe2O3 nanotubes to 50 ppm of acetone is about 44 at an operating temperature of 240 degrees C, which is 17 times larger than that of pure porous alpha-Fe2O3 nanotubes. Furthermore, the lowest detection limit of acetone is 500 ppb, with a response of 2.4. The response and recovery times to 50 ppm of acetone are about 19 and 50 s, respectively. In addition, the Nd-doped porous alpha-Fe2O3 nanotubes possess good selectivity and long-term stability. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.