The structure, electrical and ethanol-sensing properties of La1−xPbxFeO3 perovskite ceramics with x≤0.3

The nanocrystalline La1−xPbxFeO3 ceramics (x=0-0.3) can be prepared by the citric method. All the compounds crystallize as perovskite phase with orthorhombic structure. The Pb-doping restrains the growth of the grain size. The conductivity and gas sensitivity of La1−xPbxFeO3-based sensor were investigated. Results demonstrate that Pb-doping can enhance the conductance and improve the sensitivity, selectivity and response time of LaFeO3. Among the materials investigated, La0.8Pb0.2FeO3 shows the best sensitivity to ethanol at an operating temperature of 140 °C.