N-Butanol sensor based on electrospun Al doped ZnFe2O4 nanofibers

Background: Developing simple, low-cost, selective, and high-activity sensors to monitor the concentration of n-butanol in the air is worthwhile for human safety. The Al-doped ZnFe2O4 nanofibers can be regarded as a promising sensing material with a low-detection limit for n-butanol.Methods: Al-doped ZnFe2O4 nanofibers (Al-ZFO NFs) have been synthesized by an electrospinning method. The various compositions of the Al-ZFO NFs are designed.Significant findings: Al-ZFO NFs (Al/Zn = 3at%) show good n-butanol sensing properties as compared to pure ZFO NFs, with the maximum response value approaching 18.77 for 100 ppm at 175 degrees C. Al-ZFO NFs can be regarded as a promising sensing material for detecting n-butanol because of its low detection limit (100 ppb). In addition, the gas sensors based on 3at% Al-ZFO NFs are also found to have good selectivity to n-butanol. Also, the mechanisms to improve the gas sensing performances of Al-ZFO NFs are proposed.