Synthesis, characterization, magnetic properties and gas sensing applications of ZnxCu1-xFe2O4 (0.0 <= x <= 0.8) nanocomposites

In the present work ZnxCu1-xFe2O4 nanocomposites were synthesized with a wide composition range (0.0 <= x <= 0.8 in the steps of x = 02) using a sol-gel method and thin films were fabricated using a spin-coating process. The synthesized materials were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, UV-visible absorption and infrared spectroscopic techniques for their appropriate characterization. The XRD revealed the cubic spinel structure for each composition and the minimum crystallite size was found to be 10.4 nm. In order to study the thermodynamics during the synthesis, pre- and post-annealed materials were analyzed. An influence of the zinc on the magnetic properties was also investigated using a vibrating sample magnetometer. Further, the fabricated thin films were employed as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and CO2 gas sensors. Films show better sensing behavior towards LPG in comparison to CO2. Thus this study not only explored the influence of different compositions of ZnxCu1-xFe2O4 nanocomposites on their surface morphologies, crystallite sizes, porosities, specific surface areas, UV-visible absorptions and magnetic properties, but also the influence of different in situ compositions on their sensing behaviors. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.