Structural, magnetic and gas sensing properties of nanosized copper ferrite powder synthesized by sol gel combustion technique

Stoichiometric nano sized copper ferrite particles were synthesized by sol gel combustion technique. They were then calcined at various temperatures ranging from 300-800 degrees C and were either furnace cooled or quenched in liquid nitrogen. A high magnetisation value of 48.2 emu/g signifying the cubic phase of copper ferrite, was obtained for sample quenched to liquid nitrogen temperature from 800 degrees C. The ethanol sensing response of the samples was studied and a maximum of 86% response was obtained for 500 ppm ethanol in the case of a furnace cooled sample calcined at 800 degrees C. The chemical sensing is seen to be correlated with the c/a ratio and is best in the case of tetragonal copper ferrite. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.