Controlled synthesis and properties of β-Fe2O3 nanosystems functionalized with Ag or Pt nanoparticles

Abstract

β-Fe₂O₃ nanosystems functionalized with Ag or Pt nanoparticles were synthesized by an innovative two-step procedure, based on the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of β-iron(III) oxide matrices and the subsequent radio frequency (RF)-sputtering of metal nanoparticles. The system structure, nano-organization and chemical composition were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron/X-ray excited-Auger electron spectroscopies (XPS/XE-AES), and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). High purity nanomaterials based on the scarcely investigated β-Fe₂O₃ phase, and functionalized by Ag or Pt nanoparticles with tailored dispersion, were successfully obtained. Preliminary gas sensing experiments towards toxic and flammable analytes were carried out in the temperature range 100–400 °C, highlighting interesting results in the detection of H₂, CH₃CH₂OH, and CH₃COCH₃. The adopted approach can be further optimized to control the diverse morphologies of iron oxide-based materials meeting the demands of a variety of applications.