Morphology controllable synthesis of NiCo^sub 2^S^sub 4^ and application as gas sensors

NiCo2S4, with three different morphologies, had been compounded by a simple one-step solvothermal process with addition of various solutions or metal salts at 200 °C for 12 h. The microstructures and crystalline phases of the samples were investigated and the results exhibit the three products with flower-like, solid sphere-like and hollow sphere-like morphologies are all corresponding to cubic phase NiCo2S4. The materials were the first time used to fabricate gas sensors. When as gas sensors, compared with the other two morphologies NiCo2S4, hollow sphere-like NiCo2S4 had the best gas sensing properties, with relative high response, good selectivity and stability, to 100 ppm ethanol at operate temperature about 180 °C.