Preparation and gas sensing properties of Fe-doped yttrium manganate nanoparticles

Fe-doped yttrium manganate (YMn(1−x)FexO3) nanoparticles were synthesized by the precursor method. X-ray diffractions showed that the structures of the as-prepared powders were crystallized in the normal yttrium manganate phase (space group: P63cm) when doping concentration was low, while they were crystallized into the high-temperature yttrium manganate phase (space group: P63/mmc) at a high doping concentration. Then, the gas sensing properties of YMnO3 and YMn(1−x)FexO3 nanoparticles were studied for the first time. Both YMnO3 and YMn(1−x)FexO3 exhibited sensor response to alcohols, organic amines, dichloromethane, acetone, acetonitrile, methylbenzene, THF and so on. Interestingly, high-concentration Fe-doped yttrium manganate showed much better sensor response than that of normal yttrium manganate phase. We conclude that the multiferroic material of YMn(1−x)FexO3 is a promising potential new ABO3 type gas sensing material.