Structural and Morphological Characteristics of Perovskite CaTiO₃ Derived from Tebalan Seashells for the Development of VOC Gas Sensing Materials

Abstract

Perovskite CaTiO₃ mineral was synthesized from natural materials of Tebalan seashells and their structural and morphological characteristics were explored. The solids were calcined at temperatures of 900 °C and 1100 °C. The analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated that the dominant phase of CaTiO₃ exhibited an orthorhombic structure, characterized by lattice parameters a = 5.388 Å, b = 5.446 Å, and c = 7.651 Å, at a temperature of 1100°C. This observation signifies an enhancement in crystallinity and an augmentation in phase purity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the morphology was homogeneous, with uniform grains and increased density at high temperatures. This morphology is indicative of the material’s potential for use in VOC gas sensor applications, based on the observed regularity and density of the surface structure. It is hypothesized that the intrinsic porosity of shell-derived CaTiO₃, when coupled with the hierarchical porous architecture of lignocellulosic biomass, can synergistically enhance VOC adsorption and mass transfer, thereby significantly improving sensor sensitivity and detection performance. This outcome validates its promise as an eco-friendly and cost-effective VOC gas sensor material.