Acetone gas sensing properties of SmFe1−xMgxO3 perovskite oxides

Novel sensing materials, SmFe1−xMgxO3, were applied for an acetone vapor sensor. Fine powders of the oxides were prepared by a sol–gel method using citric acid. The compounds had a perovskite phase. The Mg-doping restrained the growth of the grain size. The Mg-doping strongly influenced the resistance, activation energy for conduction and gas response of the SmFeO3. The highest response to 300 ppm acetone gas reached 353 for SmFe0.9Mg0.1O3-based sensor at 260 °C. The sensor also exhibited good selectivity to acetone gas and its response increased with an increase in acetone gas concentration. Furthermore, the sensing mechanism was discussed in detail.