The Superior Gas Sensing Properties Achieved through La-Doping in BiFeO3: The Case of Bi0.75 La0.25 FeO3
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Abstract
Lanthanum-substituted bismuth ferrite (Bi0.75La0.25FeO3) nanoscale perovskite powders were synthesized using a sol–gel auto-combustion technique, with citric acid employed as a fuel agent. The synthesized materials were systematically characterized to examine their structural, morphological, and gas-sensing properties. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of a well-defined rhombohedrally perovskite phase. Further insights into bonding characteristics and surface morphology were obtained through infrared spectroscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The gas-sensing performance was evaluated for NO2, CO2, Ethanol, and NH3 over a concentration range of 5-100 ppm, with an optimal operating temperature of 200 °C. The results indicate that lanthanum incorporation significantly influences the structural features and enhances the sensing response with a response time of 11s and a recovery time of 64s. Overall, the study highlights the suitability of La-doped bismuth ferrite nanopowders as promising candidates for efficient gas-sensing applications, demonstrating a strong relationship between structural modifications and sensor performance.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Gaikwad AR, et al.
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