Hydrothermally grown porous FeVO4 nanorods and their integration as active material in gas-sensing devices
Abstract
Controllable fabrication of highly porous iron vanadate (FeVO4) thick film consisting of disordered nanorods suitable for gas penetration and permeation was achieved by hydrothermal synthesis of fervanite-like FeVO4 center dot 1.1H2O. The subsequent dehydration to FeVO4 was investigated by Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy (DQS), DTA, magnetic susceptibility (c) and electron microscopy (REM/TEM).
Their integration in gas sensing devices as porous layer via polymer-blended (PVDF) doctor-blading approach was successfully demonstrated followed by investigations of their electric properties and oxygen sensing capability. The probed I-U behaviour and UV-Vis measurements confirmed the semiconducting nature of triclinic FeVO4 (E-g = 2.72 eV) and exhibited an activation energy for electric conduction of 0.46 eV.
The best sensitivity of 0.29 +/- 0.01 (m = -3.4 +/- 0.1) could be obtained at an optimal working temperature of 250 degrees C.