title: Synthesis and gas sensing properties of α-Fe(2)O(3)@ZnO core-shell nanospindles.
abstract: α-Fe(2)O(3)@ZnO core-shell nanospindles were synthesized via a two-step hydrothermal approach, and characterized by means of SEM/TEM/XRD/XPS. The ZnO shell coated on the nanospindles has a thickness of 10-15 nm. Considering that both α-Fe(2)O(3) and ZnO are good sensing materials, we have investigated the gas sensing performances of the core-shell nanocomposite using ethanol as the main probe gas. It is interesting to find that the gas sensor properties of the core-shell nanospindles are significantly enhanced compared with pristine α-Fe(2)O(3). The enhanced sensor properties are attributed to the unique core-shell nanostructure. The detailed sensing mechanism is discussed with respect to the energy band structure and the electron depletion theory. The core-shell nanostructure reported in this work provides a new path to fabricate highly sensitive materials for gas sensing applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, TKL of Metal- and Molecule-Based Material Chemistry and Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (MOE), Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xianghong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Liwei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Taili
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xianzhi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Shihua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shurong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shoumin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang