CeO2-based mixed potential type acetone sensor using MFeO3 (M: Bi, La and Sm) sensing electrode

In order to obtain high-performance CeO2-based mixed potential type acetone sensors, MFeO3 (M: Bi, La and Sm) sensing electrode materials were prepared by sol-gel method. The present study mainly focused on the effect of sensing electrode material and sintering temperature on sensing performance of sensors. The results showed that the sensor used BiFeO3-SE sintered at 800 °C presented the best sensing characteristic to acetone at 600 °C, which can detect even 1 ppm acetone with an acceptable response value. The response value (ΔV) of the sensor changed proportionally with the logarithm of acetone concentration at the ranges of 1-5 ppm and 5-200 ppm, and the slopes of which were −7 and −75 mV/decade, respectively. The sensor also showed excellent repeatability, relatively good selectivity, resistance to humidity and good long-term stability. The high-sensing characteristics of the sensor attached with BiFeO3-SE sintered at 800 °C to acetone were explained in terms of morphology and electrocatalytic activity of sensing electrode, which are validated by SEM, BET, XPS, polarization curves and complex impedance.