ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposites with different concentration and thickness of the Fe2O3 layer were obtained by two-stage aerosol vapor deposition (AACVD). It was shown that the ZnO particles have a wurtzite structure with an average size of 51-66 nm, and the iron oxide particles on the ZnO surface have a hematite structure and an average size of 23-28 nm. According to EDX data, the iron content in the films was found to be 1.3-5.8 at.%. The optical properties of the obtained films were studied, and the optical band gap was found to be 3.16-3.26 eV. Gas-sensitive properties at 150-300 °C were studied using a wide group of analyte gases: CO, NH3, H2, CH4, C6H6, ethanol, acetone, and NO2. A high response to 100 ppm acetone and ethanol at 225-300 °C and a high and selective response to 300-2000 ppb NO2 at 175 °C were established. The effect of humidity on the magnitude and shape of the signal obtained upon NO2 detection was studied.
Keywords: AACVD; chemoresistive gas sensors; iron oxide (Fe2O3); nanocomposites; nitrogen dioxide (NO2); thin films; two-dimensional nanomaterials; zinc oxide (ZnO).