Particle Size Effect on Optical and Gas-Sensing Properties of La<sub>0.67</sub>Ca<sub>0.2</sub>Ba<sub>0.13</sub>Fe<sub>0.97</sub>M<sub>0.03</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (M = Ti<sup>4+</sup>, Mn<sup>3+</sup>, and Cr<sup>3+</sup>) Compounds
Ahmed Dhahri,
H. Saoudi,
S. R. Gavinho,
A. Benali,
N. Abdelmoula,
R. Dhahri,
Lin Peng,
Jiangtao Wu,
J. Pina,
B. F. O. Costa
Affiliations
Ahmed Dhahri
CFisUC, Physics Department, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-516 Coimbra, Portugal
H. Saoudi
Laboratoire de Physique Appliquée, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sfax, B.P. 1171, Sfax 3000, Tunisia
S. R. Gavinho
I3N and Physics Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
A. Benali
CFisUC, Physics Department, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-516 Coimbra, Portugal
N. Abdelmoula
Laboratoire des Matériaux Multifonctionnels et Applications, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia
R. Dhahri
Laboratoire de Physique Appliquée, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sfax, B.P. 1171, Sfax 3000, Tunisia
Lin Peng
College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China
Jiangtao Wu
College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China
J. Pina
CQC-IMS, Department of Chemistry, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-535 Coimbra, Portugal
B. F. O. Costa
CFisUC, Physics Department, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-516 Coimbra, Portugal
In the present work, the morphological, optical, and gas-sensing properties of La0.67Ca0.2Ba0.13Fe0.97M0.03O3 (M = Ti, Cr, and Mn) nano-powders prepared via the auto-combustion route, were investigated. TEM images prove the nanoscale particle size of all the samples. Optical studies confirm the semiconductor behavior of the studied materials. The response of the prepared nano-powders towards the presence of two gas-reducing agents (ethanol and acetone) was investigated. From the resistance ratio under air and gas, it was possible to determine the response to different gases and deduce that La0.67Ca0.2Ba0.13Fe0.97Ti0.03O3 presents the highest responses to ethanol and acetone. Likewise, we deduced that the prepared materials were able to detect low concentrations of ethanol and acetone gases.
