The acetone sensing properties of ZnFe2O4-graphene quantum dots (GQDs) nanocomposites at room temperature

ZnFe2O4/graphene quantum dots (GQDs) nanocomposites were prepared via hydrothermal method. The as-prepared nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, TG, FTIR, Raman, XPS and N-2 adsorption-desorption, respectively. The effect of GQDs content on the gas-sensing responses and the gas-sensing selectivity of the ZnFe2O4/GQDs nanocomposites was investigated. It was found that the sensor based on ZnFe2O4/GQDs nanocomposite (S-15) exhibited good response and good selectivity to acetone vapor at room temperature, the responses of the sensor based on ZnFe2O4/GQDs nanocomposite (S-15) to 1000 ppm acetone and 5 ppm acetone reached 13.3 and 1.2, respectively; the response times and the recovery times for 1000-5 ppm acetone were all shorter than 12 s. The ZnFe2O4/GQDs nanocomposite (S-15) will be a potential acetone sensing materials if its long-term gas sensing stability is improved.