Abstract

In the present study, the potential of ferrite nanoparticles (MnFe2O4 and CoFe2O4) in combination with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) will be evaluated in order to develop a gas sensor to rapidly detect the presence of gaseous acetone in closed environments. The MWCNTs were prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), while the ferrite nanoparticles were obtained by a solvothermal method with 4 and 16 hour reaction times. The size of nanoparticles was determined from X-Ray Diffractograms (XRD) using the Scherrer equation and was found to range from 11 to 13 nm. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed that the nanoparticles showed tend to agglomerate against the reaction time. The electrical resistance of the materials was evaluated in the presence and absence of acetone and its behavior was determined as a function of absorption time, gas recovery, repeatability of the measurements as a sign of sensor stability; it was found that the sensor responses depend on both the type of ferrite and the reaction time. Developing this type of sensor based on ferrite nanoparticles and MWCNTs represents a fast and effective alternative for detecting acetone, with potential application in the prevention of acetone-related diseases as a biomarker.