Burrs-shelled SnO2@Al2O3 nanocables for detection of 3-hydroxy-2-butanone biomarkers

Abstract

Detection of 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (3H-2B) biomarker is a newly emerging and feasible way to monitor Listeria monocytogenes (LMs). Although progress has been made in gas-sensing methodology, the long-term adsorption of the reactive products onto the sensing materials leads to a decrease in stability and selectivity. Herein, we report highly selective and stable 3H-2B sensors, which are developed from a core / shell structure of tin oxide nanowire coated with alumina (SnO2@Al2O3 NCBs), via combining AAO template-confined electrodeposition and wet-chemical etching. As-built sensors exhibit high sensitivity of Ra/Rg = 43.3 to 5 ppm 3H-2B at 120 °C, which is around 6–40 times against other interfering gases. Also, our sensors exhibit excellent stability after 42 days′ evaluation. Furthermore, the sensors can detect as low as 0.1 ppm 3H-2B (Ra/Rg = 2.4; 120 °C), and the sensitivity reach Ra/Rg = 27.2 at 50 °C. Our SnO2@Al2O3 NCBs sensors are endowed with ppb-level detection limit, excellent selectivity and stability at low temperature, which is of great potential in future detection of LMs.