Different concentrations (0, 1 mol%, 2 mol%, 6 mol% and 8 mol%) of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles modified hematite nanofibers (Pd NPs@α-Fe 2 O 3 NFs) were successfully synthesized via a facile electrospinning method followed by the calcination treatment. Their surface morphologies, crystal structures and chemical compositions were subsequently characterized in order to find optimum modification percentage. The gas sensing experiments on Pd NPs@α-Fe 2 O 3 -based gas sensors revealed that encapsulation of Pd NPs into α-Fe 2 O 3 NFs could significantly improve their sensing performances. Specifically, the as-prepared Pd 4 /Fe gas sensor exhibited higher response (R air /R gas = 16.6) toward 100 ppm acetone at 220 • C, which was 3.4 times higher than that of Pd 0 /Fe sensor (4.89). Meanwhile, the Pd 4 /Fe sensor also showed shorter response/recovery (4 s/4 s), low limit of detection (LOD) (50 ppb) and good selectivity and long-term stability. The enhanced gas sensing properties of Pd NPs@α-Fe 2 O 3 -based gas sensors could be attributed to the chemical and electronic sensitization of Pd NPs. Index Terms-Electrospinning, gas sensor, α-Fe 2 O 3 nanofibers, Pd nanoparticles, acetone detection.
I. INTRODUCTIONA CETONE, as one of the most important chemical reagents, has been extensively used in various industrial manufacturing processes producing, pharmaceuticals and household products, cosmetics and personal care products [1], [2]. While, on the other hand, because of the extreme volatility and deleterious characteristics, acetone has become one of the major indoor air pollution gases among