A comprehensive review on the potential of copper spinel ferrite for gas sensing application

Copper spinel ferrite (CuFe_2O4) is a promising material for the gas sensing due to its unique structural, electrical, and catalytic properties. This review focuses on the gas sensing capabilities of copper ferrite. Copper ferrite’s inverse spinel structure, rich in oxygen vacancies and flexible cation distribution, enables effective gas adsorption, making it highly sensitive to reducing and oxidizing gases. Various synthesis methods, determines the material’s particle size, morphology, and surface area, which are essential for optimizing gas sensing performance. Doping with the transition metals like nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) significantly enhances the material's sensitivity, selectivity, response time, and operating temperature by increasing oxygen vacancies and improving charge transport. However, challenges remain, including high operating temperatures, cross-sensitivity to humidity, and long recovery times. Future research directions focus on lowering the operating temperature, improving selectivity, enhancing humidity tolerance, and developing nanostructured and surface-functionalized copper ferrite sensors. Furthermore, the integration of copper ferrite sensors into wearable and IoT devices, as well as field testing in real-world applications, presents exciting opportunities for expanding their use in environmental monitoring. This review highlights the current advancements in gas sensors and suggests potential strategies for overcoming existing limitations, paving the way for next-generation gas sensing technologies.