The Three-Dimensional Hierarchical Structure of Bi x -Sn1-x O2 Used for Ultrasensitive Detection of Butanone under UV Irradiation.

Abstract

Recent studies have identified butanone as a promising biomarker in the breath of lung cancer patients, yet the understanding of its gas-sensing properties remains limited. A key challenge has been to enhance the gas-sensing performance of materials toward butanone, particularly under ultraviolet light exposure. Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel three-dimensional composite material composed of SnO2 incorporated with Bi2O3 using facile hydrothermal and impregnation precipitation methods. Detailed physical and chemical characterizations were performed to assess the properties of the developed material. Upon activation with ultraviolet light, our composite exhibited exceptionally high sensitivity to butanone. Remarkably, the butanone response was nearly 3 times greater for the Bi2O3-loaded SnO2 composite than for pristine SnO2, achieving a response value of 70. This substantial improvement is due to the synergistic effect of the material's distinctive three-dimensional architecture and the presence of Bi2O3, which significantly augmented the gas-sensing capability of butanone. To elucidate the underlying gas-sensing mechanism, we conducted first-principles calculations using density functional theory (DFT). The computational analysis revealed that the Bi2O3-containing system possesses superior adsorption energy for butanone. Ultimately, our findings suggest that the Bi-SnO2 composite holds great promise as an optimal sensing material for the detection of butanone under ultraviolet illumination.