Exploring the Bi2o3 Effect on the Gas Sensing Properties of Prfeo3 Self-Assembled Microspheres to Acetone

PrFeO3 and Bi2O3-decorated PrFeO3 (denoted as Bi-PrFeO3) self-assembled microspheres were successfully fabricated using a template-free solvothermal method. Their structural, morphological and the special surface area were characterized by different technologies. Series of analysis indicated that the pristine and Bi-PrFeO3 microspheres are formed via the agglomeration of smaller primary nanoparticles with a diameter of less than 100 nm, the specific area and pore size of Bi-PrFeO3 is larger than those of PrFeO3, but the oxygen vacancies of Bi-PrFeO3 is less than PrFeO3’s. In addition, the pristine PrFeO3 sensor shows responses from 1.56-77.10 with acetone concentrations ranging from 2-150 ppm under the optimum operating temperature of 200 °C and owns stronger moisture resistance, but the response and recovery time are 30 s and 37.6 s to 100 ppm acetone. The Bi-PrFeO3 sensor displayed a relatively wearer gas sensing performance than pristine PrFeO3 sensor, the corresponding responses is 1.51-18.10, but exhibited excellent response and recovery capability (3.0/7.7 s), the reason can be attributed to the mismatch band-gap between Bi2O3 and PrFeO3, which hinders the electrons transmission efficiency.