Synthesis of Au Nanoparticle-Modified Spindle Shaped α-Fe2O3 Nanorods and Their Gas Sensing Properties to N-Butanol

In this paper, the highly sensitive n-butanol sensors with high selectivity have been successfully fabricated based on spindle shaped α-Fe
₂
O
₃
nanorods modified by Au nanoparticles (Au NPs). Spindle shaped α-Fe
₂
O
₃
nanorods were synthesized by an improved facile hydrothermal method. Uniform Au NPs were deposited on the surface of the as-synthesized α-Fe
₂
O
₃
nanorods by a simple impregnation method. The achieved α-Fe
₂
O
₃
and Au/α-Fe
₂
O
₃
nanorods were analyzed by means of XPS, TEM, EDS, XRD and SEM. The sensing properties of both original and Au-modified spindle shaped α-Fe
₂
O
₃
samples were investigated and discussed. The experimental results indicate that the sensors based on Au/α-Fe
₂
O
₃
nanorods exhibit better responses and selectivity to n-butanol gas than the original α-Fe
₂
O
₃
, and the highest response towards 100 ppm n-butanol gas was enhanced from 51 to 177 at the optimal operating temperature of 250 °C.