LAUSR

In this work, CuFe2O4 hollow microspheres assembled with nanosheets (CuFe2O4 HMANs) were synthesized using a solvothermal method followed by an annealing treatment. The effects of annealing temperature on microstructure, chemical composition and gas sensing characteristics of as-prepared samples were investigated. The results showed that annealing treatment played a crucial role in the final products. All samples demonstrated hollow spherical morphology assembled with nanosheets or nanoparticles. The CuFe2O4 HMANs annealed at 400 °C exhibited the best n-type conductometric sensing properties toward low-concentration NH3 at 100 °C and 49%RH. The sensor response to 10 × 10−6 NH3 was 4.0 with a rapid response time of 32 s, and it even showed a response of 1.2 toward 1 × 10−6 NH3 at the same condition, while a response of 3.95 to trimethylamine (TMA). The CuFe2O4 HMANs-based NH3 sensor also exhibited good selectivity and excellent reproducibility. Therefore, this work provided a novel promised sensing material of low-concentration NH3 and TMA for real-time monitoring.