Synthesis of Nano-Praseodymium Oxide for Cataluminescence Sensing of Acetophenone in Exhaled Breath.

Qian-Chun Zhang,Run-Kun Zhang,Yu-Guo Zheng,Jing-Xin Wang,Li Jiang,Wu-Li Yan

doi:10.3390/molecules24234275

Abstract

In this work, we successfully developed a novel and sensitive gas sensor for the determination of trace acetophenone based on its cataluminescence (CTL) emission on the surface of nano-praseodymium oxide (nano-Pr6O11). The effects of working conditions such as temperature, flow rate, and detecting wavelength on the CTL sensing were investigated in detail. Under the optimized conditions, the sensor exhibited linear response to the acetophenone in the range of 15–280 mg/m3 (2.8–52 ppm), with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9968 and a limit of detection (S/N = 3) of 4 mg/m3 (0.7 ppm). The selectivity of the sensor was also investigated, no or weak response to other compounds, such as alcohols (methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, n-butanol), aldehyde (formaldehyde and acetaldehyde), benzenes (toluene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene), n-pentane, ethyl acetate, ammonia, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide. Finally, the present sensor was applied to the determination of acetophenone in human exhaled breath samples. The results showed that the sensor has promising application in clinical breath analysis.

Highlights

In recent years, the development of cataluminescence (CTL)-based gas sensors have drawn extensive interest, mainly because of the high sensitivity, fast response, long-term stability, and simplicity of the device [1,2,3]
Sensing material plays an important role in a sensor system, it interacts with analytes to induce detectable signals
We demonstrated that the proposed sensor can be used for analysis sensor can be used for analysis acetophenone inofhuman exhaled breath

Summary

Introduction

The development of cataluminescence (CTL)-based gas sensors have drawn extensive interest, mainly because of the high sensitivity, fast response, long-term stability, and simplicity of the device [1,2,3]. CTL is defined as the light emission during the catalytic oxidation reaction on the surface of catalytic solid material [4,5]. This phenomenon was firstly reported by Breysse et al in. The characteristic of the sensing material directly affects the sensitivity, selectivity and stability of the sensor. In 2002, Zhang et al first introduced nanomaterials as sensing material into the design of CTL gas sensor, they demonstrated that nanomaterials can greatly enhance CTL performances, due to the pleasing advantages of high surface areas and high reaction activity for Molecules 2019, 24, 4275; doi:10.3390/molecules24234275 www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion